Sasha's Best LP Performance

[hyoo]

I became an instant Sasha fan after her 2000 Nationals. Her skating was so light and fresh.

Her Marshalls LP in 2004 for Swan Lake was amazing. However, I felt more emotional connection to her R&J at 2006 Nationals. Tears literally sprung to my eyes when I saw her skate on television. I really regret that I never saw her R&J program live. Especially the beginning of the slow section when she begins from a standstill and begins moving forward..... beyond words.

I think that Sasha's R&J LP has special meaning for me because it began my 2nd wind as a fan. I was a fan from 1998 to 2002 and then took a break for a few years. I had quit skating due to injury in 2002 and it just became too painful for me to watch something I could not do myself.I began following skating again during the 2005-2006 season and Sasha's R&J program has real meaning for me.

I love young Sasha (2000-2002) for her lightness and stretch. I love R&J Sasha for her depth of feeling and musicality.

 

[Spun Silver]

Wait a second...are my eyes playing tricks on me?! I KNOW I didn't post recently and I remember this thread, only I thought it was MUCH older! My post says I wrote in April 28th, but I do not remember posting! I do remember that I wrote that post though...

Um, you did post recently. I read it and thought, Nice, MKFSfan is back! My next thought: Oh, that Sasha criticism! She's tough, that MKFSfan.

 

[MKFSfan]

While I stand behind what I apparently wrote, I must have had one too many martinis because I honestly do not recall writing that! So weird, I must have written the same exact post before somewhere...love all my spelling errors!

You felt I was too critical in that post?

 

[Spun Silver]

Maybe I read it before you edited it? Lawdamercy. I don't know what I was thinking of. Maybe I'm the one who's imagining things.

But which music were you referring to (that made her famous)? I thought SLC made her famous, but not the music.

 

[MKFSfan]

Sorry-didn't edit, not even to correct my poor spelling, so I'll pass on the going crazy, imagining things to you!

Hmmm...I'm not sure what I meant by:

"Somehow, I find it funny (ironic?) that the piece of music I connect Sasha to is NOT the music that made her famous (or vice versa.)"

...but I guess I was talking about Malaguena since two posts later I brough that up! That was my favorite competitive music choice by Sasha. I felt it fit her to a T. However, when I think of the music Mal and ladies skater, I think of Kristi. Actually, I probably was thinking what originally made me really notice Sasha, and what I remember as a 1st impression was her SP music 2000/02, but I don't know that I (or anyone not specifically Sasha fan) anyone would hear that music and think of Sasha, like many hear Lyra or Salome and think Michelle, if that makes sense...

I think SLC made many aware of that Sasha Cohen existed, not because of the music or her skating that night, but the Opening Ceremonies and the fact that she was a very pretty, interesting skater. What has made her FAMOUS is, IMSoberO, was the 2006 Olympics: in the aftermath of Turin she was invited and photographed at all her red carpert events, made a zillion press appearances, her Silver medal was seen as "courageous" because she had two bad mistakes right off the bat and didn't stop competing, basically all the good press she got thanks to a very smart PR team despite not winning Gold (while not having the resume other famous skaters did that garnered their fame.)


OR I could've been talking about God Bless America since I definitely associate that with Sasha now! She seems to really believe in it and it seems to be the one piece of music that makes her an "open" skater, where she really reaches into the audience to connect!

 

[Spun Silver]

(Your last 3 posts all say "last edited." ? Well, anyway - we're both out of it. I have a new puppy. Can't help it!)

Interesting take on Sasha's fame. She already had many fans and much PR way before Torino, and the bad PR she got for her falls will follow her around for the rest of her life. But it's true that many good things came out of it for her too.

ITA that GBA is one of her great ones (unlike "Hurt"). I hope she comes back to the West Side Story program she tried out at Marshall's because it could have a lot of zip - once she de-Breeifies it and starts to channel Gaby (to continue Uncle Dick's Desperate Housewives comparison).

 

[Zuranthium]

Here is the LP in 2004 to Swan Lake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2s-lm0mhbM

Even though she skated it clean, I don't like the program too much. The first half is so monotone...she does 6 jumping passes and pretty much nothing else, aside from the charlotte!

Her LP performance at the Olympics was her best ever for a LP, imo.

~Z

 

[Zuranthium]

Michelle leading up to Nagano was a 7 triple jumper in her LPs; her SPs were flawless and both programs flowed the entire arena beautifully. Her Tech in those years was the best of all her competitors, imo, and her Presentation was second to none.

However, the decline, and the mystery surrounding it, was beginning to show soon after Nagano.

???

After Nagano she went on to win the World Championships in 2000 and 2001. Both with 7 Triples and brilliant presentation.

~Z

 

[Kwanford Wife]

The first (and last...) time I ever saw Sasha skate a LP that made me say: wow, she's gonna beat Michelle (my highest compliment to pay a ladies skater...) was the black & white swan at Marshalls (or Campbells??? I can't always remember these things... and too lazy to look it up) she was clean, passionate and the simply happy to skate & it showed... loved it! After that... not so much. And its sad because she has the goods - simply can't deliver... But who knows - if she comes back, maybe her time will come...

 

[Dee4707]

KW, I got a little confused when you said she could beat Michelle. How do you mean that because if you're talking Marshalls, she did win with the Swan program. Why do you confuse me all the time, is it on purpose???

Dee

 

[Kwanford Wife]

KW, I got a little confused when you said she could beat Michelle. How do you mean that because if you're talking Marshalls, she did win with the Swan program. Why do you confuse me all the time, is it on purpose???

Dee

Dee, I confuse myself -so its nothing personal... more the time of year! (have I ever mentioned how much I HATE being a soccer mom who works?)

To clarify - that was the one time I was like wow, she could beat Michelle because she skated before Kwan... that swan program was smokin' hot and I knew she'd win... needless to say, I was sad that she left Tat and moved to Robin because her skating was so much better that season... I do agree, however, that Sasha is probably the best short program skater on the planet.

 

[Mathman]

MKFSfan, if you are truly seeing posts and edits under your name that you didn't make, change your password. (User CP (upper left-hand corner of the page) -> edit password.)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The first (and last...) time I ever saw Sasha skate a LP that made me say: wow, she's gonna beat Michelle (my highest compliment to pay a ladies skater...) was the black & white swan at Marshalls (or Campbells??? I can't always remember these things... and too lazy to look it up) she was clean, passionate and the simply happy to skate & it showed... loved it! After that... not so much. And its sad because she has the goods - simply can't deliver... But who knows - if she comes back, maybe her time will come...

I think everyone thought that, and those thbt were in Dortmund and saw the Quali Round (2004) expected her to win that Worlds. But it was not meant to be, TT's Arakawa won and TT flaunted it.

Joe

 

[krenseby]

I think everyone thought that, and those thbt were in Dortmund and saw the Quali Round (2004) expected her to win that Worlds. But it was not meant to be, TT's Arakawa won and TT flaunted it.

Joe

It's so ironic that Cohen's form coach helped her competitor beat her at Worlds... Revenge!!!!

 

[MKFSfan]

Mathman, while I don't recall posting last Saturday, that post sounds exactly like something I WOULD post! So, while I have chalked it up to the martinis doing my typing for me, I did change my password just in case!

SpunSilver-the 1st post was edited that night that I don't remember posting, my guess is to add something since I obviously still have spelling errors, but the two yesterday/today I did edit-the 1st to correct the date, and the 2nd to add the bit about GBA being my favorite music for Sasha.



edited: I agree that Sasha had LOTS of fans and good PR before Turin, but I wouldn't say she was famous outside figure skating like she is now. Before, she really was in Michelle's shadow and I don't think many really knew who Sasha Cohen was. Now, I think more do know of her, or at least, did last season.

 

[feraina]

It's so ironic that Cohen's form coach helped her competitor beat her at Worlds... Revenge!!!!

Someone mentioned that if you watch the interview of TT after Shiz won, you could see Sasha's mom wailing in the background. TT said in a recent interview that their split was basically down to she and Sasha's mom having disagreements over how Sasha's schedule should be managed in terms of competitions, training, shows, and off-ice activities. She also said that Sasha was an incredibly hard worker, and she never thought anyone could work as hard as she did day in, day out... Sorry, I'm too lazy to chase down the refs for this.

 

[MKFSfan]

Not that it matters...

There have also been reports that TT was not very happy with Sasha's lifestyle, like- Sasha would shop in Paris, stay up late to bake cookies and such things that would interfer with Sasha's ability to practice hard every day, or doing so much outside the rink that she would be too tired/sick to train how TT wanted. I think TT was used to the Russian style of training, which is very different. I am in no way saying Sasha is lazy (far from it!) but I believe TT had difficulties accepting how Sasha lived, on top of her issues with Mama Cohen.

Question-how did TT flaunt Shiz's win? The usual coach builds up student, or was there more to it?

 

[SeaniBu]

..Sasha's mom having disagreements over how Sasha's schedule should be managed in terms of competitions, training, shows, and off-ice activities. She also said that Sasha was an incredibly hard worker, and she never thought anyone could work as hard as she did day in, day out...

Moms, the most unbiased people on earth when regarding their own children aren't they?

Sorry I know some hate sarcasm on the boards, I digress. forgive.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Question-how did TT flaunt Shiz's win? The usual coach builds up student, or was there more to it?

Well, for want of a better word, and it was only in Dortmund. TT was bouncing around the arena having pics taken as the coach who won the Worlds that competition. Unfortunately, Griazev didn't keep her smiling.

Joe

 

[MKFSfan]

Gotcha. I'm guessing it would have been preceived better had she worked with Shiz all season, and not split with the favorite mid-season. I remember when Michelle started with RA a month or two before Nationals 2004, and she won, he looked so in awe, not trying to steal her limelight or take credit. Then again, when she won in 2005, he pretty much acted the same way! He is hot!