Sasha and Michelle

[lilwish]

this is a thread for people who like them BOTH. I think Sasha has an amazing flexibility and gorgeous lines. I wish she could connect them to her emotions. If she could, I think she would be close to unbeatable if she skates cleanly (everyone can have a bad day).

I love Michelle for her ability to put it all together time after time, emotions and jumps. Sometimes I think she plays it safe and it makes me crazy. Still, I love to watch her skate and she always makes me feel happy to be alive.

I don't see why we can not love both of them and wish them both well.

Anyone with me?

[Isabelle]

I also enjoy watching both of them skate.

[Artemis]

lilwish, I'm 100% with you, and I think you've captured each of their strengths (and weaknesses) very well. I really hope there will be one major competition when both of them (and all the other competitors) are at their absolute best and the decision comes down to the wire.

[Tapper]

I like them both and I think they both have enormous gifts. Different packages... both of them prize packages. In addition to lilwish's comments I'd add that to me Michelle brings a maturity to her skating that gives it depth, while Sasha brings a fire and freshness that can only belong to youth; I find both qualities appealing.

I like both of them... it's just the competition that drives me crazy!

[sk8gal07]

completly agree =)

[Perry]

Personally, I think Sahsa, technically and artistically, skates better. When you watch Michelle live, however, she has some special way to connect with the audience that Sasha, and every other female competitor, lacks. I have no diea what it is, but, somehow, she manages to carry the audience with her every move. The problem is, you just can't capture that on TV.

[Artemis]

... The problem is, you just can't capture that on TV.

Actually, I've found that that quality does translate well on TV. The difference I find is that Michelle almost always has "it," while Sasha only has it on the nights she's really on. Although she's gotten a lot better in the past year or two in sustaining the emotion and energy even through her less-than-technically-perfect performances.

[danibellerika]

I rooted for Michelle at the 2002 Olys b/c it seemed only fitting for someone with such hardware to own that gold medal. I wouldn't call myself a fan of Michelle's(most of her programs don't do so much for me), but she has had a program or two that I have really liked. I got the luxury of seeing her skate TFB live at worlds and she was totally awesome. She had an amazing energy there. That made me respect her a little more. I also think her Salome and Black Swan programs were great. She also has moves that I really like, like her hydroblade, COE spiral, and split leaf. My biggest harp though is that it doesn't seem to me like she pushes herself. I just feel that she has been resting on her laurels a bit as of late. Hopefully with her new coach, we'll see more challenging programs from Michelle.

As for Sasha; I'll always root for her. I really love watching her skate, especially when she is on. She works really hard and always wants to be her best(imo, her best is the best). If she could only just get her head together, she would be the champ that she aspires to be. I think that having Robin by her side can be good for her nerves. She gets so high strung and caught up in doing well, that the exact opposite can happen sometimes. If she were to win the Olys in 2006, that could be her last season. It's hard to come to terms with the fact that she could be leaving so soon. Either way, she has had a successful career, has made some awesome programs(even if the music has been used time and time again), and executes so many moves like no other. I love her spirals, her fast spins, her split jumps, her jumps when on(gotta love that toe point and form in air), and the vibrancy she brings to a performance when it's going well. I got to see her skate at COI this summer and it was so nice to see solid jumps and happiness out of her, eventhough the program itself wasn't a favorite of mine. I wish her all the luck in the world on her future endeavors and I think I will follow her career in skating and beyond.

She brought me into loving skating full time, not just when the Olys roll around. She inspired me to start skating myself where I realized that I actually have a knack for it. I only engage in excercise distguised as fun and skating definately is that. :P I can't wait to meet her and give her my thanks for all of that.

[LETHESK8NBEGIN]

I like them both as well...but Sasha is by far my favorite. I agree with whomever said Michelle has the knack to bring the audience into her programs...really special how that happens...and no other lady can do it and I can't remember a lady in the past doing it. Scotty Hamilton said at the '98 Olynpics "if you are sitting in the last row you feel her power" and it is so true. That is by far my favorite quality of Michelle's.

But Sasha Cohen's style of skating is my favorite. Love her line, extension, fire, and balletic quality. You just can't take your eyes off her when she is on the ice. She is amazing!

[kisscid]

thanks LIlwish for starting this thread! I get so tired of the Sasha Vs. Michelle debates. I love bothe skaters and root for both of them to do their best. They both have their own unique weaknesses and strengths.
Cid

[loveskating]

thanks LIlwish for starting this thread! I get so tired of the Sasha Vs. Michelle debates. I love bothe skaters and root for both of them to do their best. They both have their own unique weaknesses and strengths.
Cid

As do many skaters...Irina Slutskaya, Arakawa, Miki Ando, Angela Nikodinov