Well, I think things might change when she starts training with Christy krall. She doesn't seem like a coach who would let a parent tell her what to do. She seems like a my way or the highway kind of coach, which is exactly what Alysa needs. IMO, of course
I agree. I also hope Christy can keep her father away from the rink, at least during practice. An athlete needs time to decompress and the stress that Alysa is facing right now is huge.
I agree. "You can see alot just by watching"....Yogi Bear. And watching Alysa's body language and listening to her voice means alot more than seeing her written word that she is (my words) "rising above and moving forward"
Excellent 1988 article. I have so much to say and feel here about what is done to young kids of any sport/art....physically and mentally, in many nations....some, like Tara Lapinski, find a way to stay in the sport in some manner despite terrible injuries and succeed. They can become coaches and commentators, choreographers and what have you. Many are very smart and get degrees in finance, mechanical engineering, the medical field, etc and go on to have great normal lives....some who will remain nameless feel lost at the end of their skating lives and drift.....I am glad my parents didnt Push me....I dont think I could have taken that....
There's such a fine line and I don't think it's easy for any parent. I have said many times that it used to really upset me when my father would remind me of how expensive it was for me to train at a high level. He wisely made me choose between skating and dance and I'm glad he did. I was able to focus my energy and fortunately, it all worked out.
Big money helps too. Both Lipinksi & Hughes were very well to do.
I haven't read all 69 pages, but I am impressed:
I would call that pretty harsh. I think parents and students should be told up front that there are levels to be strived for, and the teacher will keep both informed as to how they are doing and at some point be told honestly that in the opinion of the teacher, they have reached a level and perhaps will not achieve past that, or perhaps should try a different teacher. Many teachers are just plain mean. My first wife's dressage teacher told her she was too fat to look good on a horse. My college calculus TA was from India and his name is/was Vasu Dewan. He was brilliant but I think he was teaching as it was required to do his research....told me, "Mr. Coyote, I dont think Calculus is your bag of oats". And he was right. I dropped out of engineering and became a technician and was much happier for it. The date was Friday, Nov. 8th 1968. The next day an earthquake hit my dorm!
Do you seriously expect her to criticise her own mother to the world? They are very close and Sasha is very loyal. Galina sacrificed a lot for her daughter's career including her marriage by moving to Connecticut when Sasha was coached by TAT. That was in my humble opinion one massive mistake. Sasha was 18, old enough to live on her own and TAT was a very motherly type of coach in those days, she would have taken a good care of Sasha. With two strong personalities on site it was only a matter of time before things went sourly. Leaving TAT just before the Nationals was disastrous and in all probability cost Sasha a world title in 2004.
No, I don't, but I also have not seen evidence of any reason for her to do so. Until then, I'd rather not speculate about someone's relationship with their mother.
