Sasha. Comeback. Believe it. | Page 27 | Golden Skate

Sasha. Comeback. Believe it.

I am dying to hear about Sasha's music. Most folks think she will use Moonlight Sonata as a SP but I think it would work better as a LP. Sasha shines when she skates to fiery music ( I still have visions of her SP at Torino, she owned the ice) but I digress. I think that will be a good strategy for her so she can rack up the points and be in good position for a medal.
 
The spirit, if not the letter, of the rules seem to be that the ISU can hand out the “left over” candy anyway they wish...The big disagreement here is how the left overs are dispensed.

The leftovers are not so much handed out by the ISU as they are snapped up by the host federations.

Each of the six federations puts on a show. They invite skaters to participate. The ISU has rules that say to the federations, among the six of you, you must invite certain skaters twice and certrain other skaters at least once.

Naturally the French Federation jumped at the chance to get both Sasha and Caroline for their show -- who wouldn't?

But do the other 40 federations have a say? I mean, are there "rules" that state who the spots go to?

No, the other 40 federations do not have any say in the matter. The USFSA can invite whoever they want from their own country (up to three) to Skate America. If Michelle and Sasha dropped out they could invite me and you. :)
 
I would have no problem with Michelle being allowed to just walk into Nationals. She's Michelle Kwan. She freaking won it nine times. Pick any other current skater you want, to try to form some kind of comparison, and there is no comparison. In a way it would be almost demeaning and/or ridiculous to force Michelle Kwan to go through sectionals and regionals. Many of her fans would scream, but if USFSA told her to do sectionals+regionals I know she would do them with a smile, cause she's cool like that. :laugh:
If the rules were amended to say something like,"Skater can get a bye to Nats if they have won Nats/Worlds titles in the last 10 years" and Michelle falls under that, then by all means! But as of right now, Michelle has to qualify. Personally, I bet if Michelle does make a comeback, she will skip Sectionals due to SA, and USFSA will find her another "B" level competition to enter in place of Regionals.

As for Sasha...wasn't "West Side Story" supposed to be a competitive program for her? I remember she used it at that Skate Idol thing, but did she skate it anywhere else?
 
As for Sasha...wasn't "West Side Story" supposed to be a competitive program for her? I remember she used it at that Skate Idol thing, but did she skate it anywhere else?

yeah, there were rumors that it would be her new program, but she skated to a fully vocal version, as far as I can remember. I can think of better choices, but really whatever she skates to will be magical.

I am expecting "moonlight" to be one of her new programs, I think it would be best as a SP and I agree that she needs something firey for her long. I still have fantasies of her skating to the firebird. that would be a match made in skating heaven.
 
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

Michael Corleone

That was the very quote that Michelle used when they roped her into doing 2002 Skate America.

After the 2002 Olympics she intended to drop out of sight, not compete at all in the 2002-2003 season, and mull over her future. Olympic champion Sarah Hughes was signed for Skate America as the big draw. There were big Sarah Hughes posters all over Spokane.

A week before the big show, Sarah withdrew. :eek: The show's sponsors were ina tizzy. They told the USFS, no Sarah Hughes? you better get us Michelle Kwan or else! The rumor was that USFS had no choice but to call Shep Goldberg and make Michelle "an offer she couldn't refuse." :laugh:
 
I still have fantasies of her skating to the firebird. that would be a match made in skating heaven.
I agree, Tinymavy. She does best with fiery Russian music. She's done Rachmaninov and Dark Eyes. Now it's time for Firebird or Scheherezade.

I'm in a minority about "Moonlight." Hated it.
 
"Firebird" and Sasha would be great!

I'm with you SpunSilver-I'm not so enthused about "Moonlight" as a competitive program. It was nice as an a exhibition, definitely fit her better than "DSTM" but I found it kinda boring for a last hurrah.
 
That was the very quote that Michelle used when they roped her into doing 2002 Skate America.

After the 2002 Olympics she intended to drop out of sight, not compete at all in the 2002-2003 season, and mull over her future. Olympic champion Sarah Hughes was signed for Skate America as the big draw. There were big Sarah Hughes posters all over Spokane.

A week before the big show, Sarah withdrew. :eek: The show's sponsors were ina tizzy. They told the USFS, no Sarah Hughes? you better get us Michelle Kwan or else! The rumor was that USFS had no choice but to call Shep Goldberg and make Michelle "an offer she couldn't refuse." :laugh:

I just don't know what to say, everywhere there is politics which really makes me feel bad but I can't imagine the skaters concerned on how much frustrating it is for them - and this is the age of the survival of the fittest where politics has always been in the picture.
 
No, the other 40 federations do not have any say in the matter. The USFSA can invite whoever they want from their own country (up to three) to Skate America. If Michelle and Sasha dropped out they could invite me and you. :)

But surely someone had a word with Skate Canada to ask them, if it's ok with them, to invite Mr and Mrs Van de Perren to Skate Canada so that they can travel together and compete at the same competition ;)

Ant
 
I saw lately an extended exhibition of l'oiseau de feu history in russian ballet since 1900, it rocks, but I like also sasha's moonlight sonata I ve seen on youtube!
I got my first succesful result, champagne anyone?:party: Hey dont upset Joe, he's one of my favs writers here:)
 
Just wondering - is there a topic for "Grand Prix Selection Rules" ?
If not, it might be a good idea to start one since there does seem to be a raging debate about this.
My two cents about Sasha's music - I hope she does something new for both SP and LP. I can see here old programs on YouTube and for me, part of the excitement over her return would be to see something fresh and new. To see how much she may have changed and matured in the three seasons she was away.
I wonder if there is any chance that NBC or it's cable affiliates might broadcast TEB? I can't wait to see the new programs of Sasha and Princess Caroline. Not to mention Yuna, Mao, Yukari and Caro K. What a line up :agree:
 
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I feel completely stupid cause I ve been reading the last 5-6 pages and I still i didnt get why sasha and shen/zhao had two grand prix :laugh:Good thing is I dont mind they got two anyway:p
 
I feel completely stupid cause I ve been reading the last 5-6 pages and I still i didnt get why sasha and shen/zhao had two grand prix :laugh:Good thing is I dont mind they got two anyway:p

You have to get up to about page 30 to figure it out. That's how long it took me. :)
 
I feel completely stupid cause I ve been reading the last 5-6 pages and I still i didnt get why sasha and shen/zhao had two grand prix :laugh:Good thing is I dont mind they got two anyway:p

I am with you on that seniorita. It is great for skating to have S/Z and Sasha back. Plushy too!
As to the rules, it is pretty clear that the returning skaters/federations got what they wanted. I would like to say, "thank god for common sense" but I don't think God or common sense had to much to do with it. The rules provide for federations to seek placements for returning skaters.
 
But surely someone had a word with Skate Canada to ask them, if it's ok with them, to invite Mr and Mrs Van de Perren to Skate Canada so that they can travel together and compete at the same competition ;)

I think that falls under Section 2.2, paragraph z, of the Technical Announcement: Special Considerations for newlyweds wanting to honeymoon in picturesque Kitchner, Ontario.
 
my resume on why they were given two spots was simple "because they are reigning medalists, federations put pressure and they will enhance the ticket selling with their comeback"..is it fair decision?I have to read from page 30 now to find out.
When they announced grand prix, did they write in which category of rules each skater falls?
of the Technical Announcement: Special Considerations for newlyweds wanting to honeymoon in picturesque Kitchner, Ontario.

:laugh:
 
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