Sasha Leaves Tarasova For Robin Wagner

[thisthingcalledlove]

coaching change

maybe sasha should go to scott williams...maybe he can get her to calm down a bit...

if sasha is switching coaches only because she isn't getting her way, she's lucky she isn't from the former ussr or east germany. imagine her trying to get away from jutta mueller, or stanislav zhuk!

 

[registered]

Re: coaching change

if sasha is switching coaches only because she isn't getting her way, she's lucky she isn't from the former ussr or east germany. imagine her trying to get away from jutta mueller, or stanislav zhuk!

If anything, it appears that Tatiana's the initiator of the split between the two, she even "recommended" Robin Wagner, as a new coach for Sasha.

Didn't TT also left Bourne and Kraatz in the quite unceremonious manner, after she parted ways with Morozov?

 

[WhiteNights]

All knowledgeable russian sekret sources say Cohen is making a big mistake...leading to only one conclusion: it was Cohen's decision, and anything else is just "spin".

 

[Jaana]

I think that for US Nationals Sasha´s changing of coaches does not have any real impact. Sasha will go there the way she is now, trained by Tarasova for the season. I would predict for her a second or third place.

A very different matter is Worlds competition, because for that competition Sasha and her new coach will have time to work together and show results from that work.

A link to Philip Hersh article about Sasha, Tarasova and Wagner:

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/7567439.htm

Marjaana

 

[windspirit]

Re: coaching change

Didn't TT also left Bourne and Kraatz in the quite unceremonious manner, after she parted ways with Morozov?

Love the phrasing. Not only it was Tarasova who left Sasha, but she also did it in an "unceremonious manner." I guess that now, when she's no longer your beloved skater's coach, she immediately fell from grace in your book. Oh, color me surprised.
---

Anyway, count me among those who were surprised by the news. I didn't see it coming (but again, I didn't see them lately). From what I've seen before, it was clear that TT had fallen in love with Sasha, and they looked like a perfect team. Whatever was the cause, I hope it'll work out well for everyone involved in the end. I also hope the reason to change coaches was not trivial, after all, Sasha's whole family moved across the whole country to accommodate her, when she decided to switch to Tarasova.

If someone read the Griazev's interview (that's still on the first page here) - he said (two weeks ago), that TT was going with him to Russian Nationals. I didn't think much about it then, because I forgot that Russian and US Nats were at the same time. If I didn't, I'd have been quite surprised, as it seemed that Sasha was TT's number one priority. I wouldn't mind Griazev's taking that place.

Btw, here's an excerpt from a recent interview with Galina Volchek (a Russian actress and a director):
Recently, I've spoken with my friend, Tania Tarasova, who is one of the most talented people I've met in my life. And Tania, who's brought up several Olympic champions, has told me that she doesn't want to do it anymore. I was surprised: "What are you talking about! Your students won't let you do it!" And she said: "It seems that's it's not very fashionable to train under me now."

A link to the whole interview here. (she doesn't mention TT more, though)

 

[Jaana]

Thanks for the translation!

> Btw, here's an excerpt from a recent interview with Galina Volchek (a Russian acctress and a director):
Recently, I've spoken with my friend, Tania Tarasova, who is one of the most talented people I've met in my life. And Tania, who's brought up several Olympic champions, has told me that she doesn't want to do it anymore. I was surprised: "What are you talking about! Your students won't let you do it!" And she said: "It seems that's it's not very fashionable to train under me now." >

Well, the last sentence surprises me... A new side to this matter?
What do we have so far:

- Sasha leaves Tarasova
- Tarasova leaves Sasha (because of Tarasova´s health problems)
- It is not fashionable to train under Tarasova

BTW, I don´t remember how the matter with Bourne&Kraatz and Tarasova was, but there were some sudden surprises for the skaters, wheren´t there? Or was it some other ice dance pair which quite suddenly found out that they were not coached by Tarasova anymore?

Marjaana

 

[rtureck]

According to Barry Wilner

Wagner will work with a skater considered by many to be better than Hughes heading into the 2002 Olympic season

Who were the many? Last I checked, Sarah Hughes is still the reigning OGM, a better skater heading into 2002 Olympics, as the reigning world bronze medalist. Last I checked Sarah beat Sasha in US nationals 2003, even though TT thought Sasha won theh silver.

Here is my pick for USA national gold, Sasha Cohen, I have called my bookie and placed the bet. When I win big, I will tell you, "I told ya so"

 

[Tonichelle]

Didn't TT also left Bourne and Kraatz in the quite unceremonious manner, after she parted ways with Morozov?

Actually, they left her(makes sense as Shae is/was dating Morozov, not to mention the fact that she also helps him with other skaters)

and it was pretty ugly in some of the news articles....

 

[NorthernLite]

Here is my pick for USA national gold, Sasha Cohen, I have called my bookie and placed the bet.

Sigh. That Sasha, putting me in this position: When I see people on other boards/Skatefans bringing back the old Sarah/Robin hate, I suddenly want Sasha to do well for Robin's sake.

Once they adjust to each other, this could work. I think Sasha must have a lot of respect for what Robin did with Sarah. (But how ironic to see Robin coaching the *one* person, who more than any other, pushed Sarah's buttons.)

BTW I don't think Robin is a warm and fuzzy "pushover." I've heard she was strict with Sarah in practices. And I think she could find the right strategy to shape up Sasha's head/ put her into "killer instinct" mode. (I also think there will be no more warmup shadowing antics, if there ever were. I'd hope Robin could convince SC that's stupid, and doesn't work on the other tough competitors like MK or JK anyway.)

Well, here's hoping in all this that JK can just slip in under the radar, as Terry Gannon put it, and have a successful Nats as well.

 

[rtureck]

Northernlite

I've heard she was strict with Sarah in practices.

Actually Robin was strict with Sarah on and off ice, (I love Sarah) as a teenager, she was not immune to some honest tantrums (details are not important). Robin took care of those nicely

 

[Kasey]

So she’s going to continue training but not her most prize student. Very interesting.

Just a thought...but maybe Tarasova didn't find Sasha to be her "most prized student"???


Kasey

 

[registered]

Re: Re: coaching change

Love the phrasing. Not only it was Tarasova who left Sasha, but she also did it in an "unceremonious manner." I guess that now, when she's no longer your beloved skater's coach, she immediately fell from grace in your book. Oh, color me surprised.
---

If someone read the Griazev's interview (that's still on the first page here) - he said (two weeks ago), that TT was going with him to Russian Nationals. I didn't think much about it then, because I forgot that Russian and US Nats were at the same time. If I didn't, I'd have been quite surprised, as it seemed that Sasha was TT's number one priority. I wouldn't mind Griazev's taking that place.

Btw, here's an excerpt from a recent interview with Galina Volchek (a Russian actress and a director):
Recently, I've spoken with my friend, Tania Tarasova, who is one of the most talented people I've met in my life. And Tania, who's brought up several Olympic champions, has told me that she doesn't want to do it anymore. I was surprised: "What are you talking about! Your students won't let you do it!" And she said: "It seems that's it's not very fashionable to train under me now."

A link to the whole interview here. (she doesn't mention TT more, though)

I just don't see where we disagree. Either Tarasova didn't want to "do it anymore" (coaching), or decided to accompany Griazev to Russian nationals, thus leaving Cohen alone before an important event -- she appears to be the one who caused the rift (what else could Sasha do, but to look for the last minute fill in?).

Sorry for harsh wording, but leaving a student 2 weeks before Nationals (thank God for RW, who agreed to step in!), is nothing short of betrayal. OK, I agree that Sasha shouldn't have gone to the cheesefest, but the punishment just doesn't fit the crime IMO. And to those who thinks, it's Sasha, who "dumped" Tarasova -- however willful she may appear, she isn't stupid, to shoot herself in the foot prior to 2 most important competitions of the season.

And isn't it true, that Tatiana left B/K, and Naomi and Peter, without even telling it to them directly? They complained, that they learned about the split from the newspapers. At the time, I though, maybe they just followed Morozov, but now I tend to believe their story better.

 

[April]

Sasha

Well,

How is Robin Wagner as a coach? Is she known for any particular training?

 

[Spark]

Well, since Sarah Hughes has been the only well-known skater of Robin Wagner's, we really don't know how she is as a coach. If she'd had a few skaters at the top and they were all known for flutzing, cheated jumps, mental toughness, triple-triple combinations, grace, etc., then we'd know these things reflect Wagner's strengths and weaknesses as a coach. We'll see what she does for Sasha. I don't see Sasha really coming to respect her or trust her judgement though.

 

[mzheng]

There is a post at FSU said, actually Sasha's mom who managed Sasha's skating. When TT advise Sasha not to compete at ABC cheesfest, it was her mom insist Sasha to compete, and her won the argument. Read that post, looks TT had enought with CampSasha, and considering herown health and elite coach status, she really don't need put extra stress on herself.

 

[BronzeisGolden]

WOW! I don't come around for a few days and the impossible happens! I would never even have thought of this as a possibility...Sasha with Robin Wagner! Well, it might just be crazy enough to produce surprising results. Sasha is capable of greatness and I thought TT was taking her in the right direction. But, it is difficult to judge any relationship when you are looking at it from the outside. If either Sasha or Tatiana weren't comfortable or had issues, who are we to pass judgement? I hope Sasha can find a comfortable situation with the right coach and finally bring everything together at the big events. Still, though, I wouldn't ever have pictured that coach to be Robin Wagner!

 

[Germanice]

I've to say I'm disappointed. Not a smart move at all! Sasha Cohen is (was?) one of the rare examples of (US) Lady skaters with a real interesting personality. She's always outstanding, but Tatiana Tarasova added true class and style to her. Okay, I'm aware she wasn't finished, I'm aware about her tremendous lack of consistancy, but to me that wasn't Tarasova's fault. There should've been another way to solve the problem than to switch coaches. Now, with the move to Miss Wagner, for which obscure "reasons" ever, Cohen lost a big chance to become a true class of her own. It looks like a huge decline to me. I'm just hoping she still remains herself. The last thing figure skating needs is another puppet on a string, another one of these typical boring, sugar-coated Dollar-princesses.

Anke

 

[Ptichka]

I find it plain impossible to believe that TT was the one to dump Sasha two weeks before the Nationals. She HAS put up with quite a lot of willfullness from her students, especially from Kulik. I DO believe that in reality they must have come to this understanding beforehand. As to TT's history with Morozovs' students -- according to what Bourne herself has said, they haven't been working with TT much in the last months before TT/Morozov split, they've been mainly training with Morozov.

 

[LBC]

There is a post at FSU said, actually Sasha's mom who managed Sasha's skating. When TT advise Sasha not to compete at ABC cheesfest, it was her mom insist Sasha to compete, and her won the argument. Read that post, looks TT had enought with CampSasha, and considering herown health and elite coach status, she really don't need put extra stress on herself.

If this argument did take place I am sure it probably had to do with Sasha's contract with the USFSA to do the cheesefest and the loss of money should she pull out. Also the "Sasha is ducking Michelle" comments that would have come. Look at Tim. He was sick with food poisoning the week before at NHK and still having boot problems and did the cheesefest then pulls out of GPF the week afterwards.

TT said that she isn't coaching ANY more foreign students except to consult. I really think that she is fed up with dealing with foreign federations as well as the Russian one. The Russian federation is stressful enough imagine several of them. She said that she and Sasha parted ways nicely. I do think that TT knew that Sasha was going to need more work and she couldn't health wise give it her all and wanted Sasha to have a coach that could.

 

[kzarah]

I can't believe that she would do something like this after her family move from California just for her to train with TT.
Daniel and Little Lulu