New article on Sasha

[skatingatty]

http://asianathlete.com/DaScoopsFormDisplay.aspx?ID=2677

"Hot off the press!"

[Schmeck]

Thanks for the link!

Now, why is Cohen in Asian Athlete? Is it just the Kwan connection?

[skatingatty]

Yeah, I know she's not Asian, but I can't resist the opportunity to report on skating no matter who the person is. As a fellow adult skater tells me, "Now, don't be racist!" :) Tomorrow there will be something about Belbin & Agosto.

[duckies77]

Sasha's got character,oodles of it,has her feet on the ground without being a bore,is very sensible, mature, and is completely up-front. What a delight! :)

[Emanfan]

She sounds terrific, doesn't she? I noticed a big difference in her at Marshall's. She seemed "grown up".

The U.S. fans should be really proud of their ladies - especially the Kwan/Cohen dynamic. They are both stunningly beautiful skaters and not easily matched (except maybe for Shiz!).

[Schmeck]

skatingatty, is that your website?

[yogurtslinger]

Ah, sounds like same old Sasha to me. She always says she's working on just trying to skate her best, instead of focusing on being perfect. But nevertheless, in her programs, when the pressure's on, she freezes up & skates very cautiously.

I was just watching repeat of Grand Prix final on ESPN... and Mao Asada is just like Sasha's opposite, in terms of her mental state. She skates with this ease and confidence.

I adore Sasha... she has such potential as an artist on the ice. Yet she is still so closed off while performing most of the time. It's like she only emotes as much as she needs to instead of really giving it her all and truly wearing her heart on her sleeve. She has such perfect positions, polish, and musicality... I wish she had the personality of an Oksana Baiul, so that she could really allow herself free reign to listen to the music and perform for the audience.

It's the strangest thing. The positions Sasha reaches are so perfect and breathtaking. Her sense of timing and her feel for the music is also great. It's like there's this beast, this locked up passion inside of her that she's never dared to unleash. Oksana's positions (back in the day) were never this perfect. Her spins were never this perfect. Yet she danced on the ice. She charmed and bewitched the audience no matter the genre of music she performed to.

Just an intuition, but I think Sasha has that same musicality and versatile dance talent inside of her. Somewhere. If only she could break through her inhibitions and caution and skate from her heart. I can't even imagine what it would be like to see a skater of her caliber, with such perfect extension and positions, dance with the passion and honesty of vintage Oksana, circa '94.

[skatingatty]

skatingatty, is that your website?

No, this guy named Daniel Chinen from Hawaii owns the website. I just write for it (not a paid job). If anyone else is interested in writing for the site too, just let me know. :)

[doubletoe]

Yogurtslinger, I know what you mean. I think focus is the most important challenge in competitive figure skating and Sasha probably needs to use most of it to make sure she lands every jump and gets to the next element with all the difficult choreography intact. I've found that it's very difficult to focus on technique and emote at the same time, and I envy those skaters who can do it! I thought Sasha did a good job at the Marshalls "competition" last month, when it was all about putting on a good show rather than completing all the difficult elements, so she's definitely got it in her. :)