Cohen definitely not doing GP?

[Schmeck]

Found this on the USFSA site:

http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=34764

Cohen is bypassing the Grand Prix because of what???? :roll:

[Artemis]

"Because of post-Olympic commitments."

:roll:

OTH ... in past years she's peaked during the GP, so maybe this is a good strategy for her.

Y'know, I'm just not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, skaters should do what's good for their own needs. The Grand Prix events are not Worlds, there should be no carved-in-stone expectation for the top competetors to compete (although most do because the find the experience helpful, not to mention financially beneficial). But OTH, if you're being supported by your national federation and your fans ... maybe you owe it to them to make an appearance.

And if Sasha ends up doing a bunch of cheeze fests in the fall ... then I will be ticked.

Ok, now ducking away before the bashing begins. (I can already see the "all you Kwan-haters trashed Michelle when she skipped the Grand Prix" arguments.) ( *sigh* )

[stardust skies]

The GP is a way for skaters to make money and get more name recognition. It didn't used to be the be-all and end-all. I think the way the ISU has handled the GP is stupid. Skaters shouldn't HAVE to skate in pointless, non-qualifying events if they don't want to. Cohen has money, and she's probably tired, some even say injured, what would she bother with the GP circuit for? It won't bring her anything. She's already podiumed there enough times.

A skater really doesn't have obligations to their fans to compete anywhere they don't want to. I mean, these are THEIR bodies and the more they use them the quicker most have to retire. It's pointless to load on tons of events if you don't have a need for them. Nothing wrong with doing Nationals/Worlds only, those are really the only events that matter to competitive skaters. Nothing wrong with doing a special event like Marshalls on the side too, if it will be fun for the skater. Every event a skater does takes time out of training, what with traveling and actually competing, plus dealing with all the jetlag, foreign food, etc. The Olympic season was hard on everyone, and it's normal that skaters aren't feeling like spending half their season in airplanes right now. Especially when you take into account that the COI tour most of them were on lasted FIVE months! Give them a break. I'm sure they all want to perform their best for Nationals and Worlds (the titles that actually matter), and for that they all need rest and training time. Signing on for the GP would mean no opportunity for either.

Everytime you're on the ice, you risk injury. It's really not up to fans to be bothered if a skater isn't willing to participate in a particular event at any given time. At least this year it seems skaters are giving fans ample warning so that tickets aren't bought for nothing.

[Tennisany1]

Entire post.
I totally agree. If Sasha doesn't need or want to do the GP series she shouldn't be required to. It is much better that she say so now rather than pull out at the last minute. By not attending she also opens up a spot for a lower ranked skater which allows them to earn money to support their training, gain name recognition, and gain valuable ranking points. If the ISU is serious about having the top ranking skaters skate in the GP series, they need to structure the ranking system in such a way as the wins in the GP actually mean something. If they don't do that, skaters should be able to choose when and where they compete and accept any consequences from their choices (eg. not having the opportunity to try their programs out in a competetive setting prior to Nationals.)

[Alexa]

I agree she shouldn't be forced to, but personally I think it makes no sense not to do them. You need some competitions to get your programs in good working order. Especially with the new scoring system--it gives the skaters an idea of how their programs are scoring, and if they need to make adjustments, etc.

There are not that many competitions besides the GP, Nationals, and Worlds--I think the GP can only help a skater. I don't think this move is going to do Sasha any favors at Worlds.

[Schmeck]

Sasha's 'team' has already created programs under CoP, so they are very familiar with what needs to be done to get the points. I don't think she'll have any problem keeping in the top 3-4 at Worlds, as long as she isn't nursing an injury.

[stardust skies]

I agree she shouldn't be forced to, but personally I think it makes no sense not to do them. You need some competitions to get your programs in good working order. Especially with the new scoring system--it gives the skaters an idea of how their programs are scoring, and if they need to make adjustments, etc.

There are not that many competitions besides the GP, Nationals, and Worlds--I think the GP can only help a skater. I don't think this move is going to do Sasha any favors at Worlds.


The thing is that skaters like Cohen (and actually lower level skaters, too) fly in National judges to take a look at their programs on several occasions before the season even starts. For the most part, skaters know how their programs will score before they even debut them, and what several important judges think of the music/costume/choreography choices (think back on Johnny Weir saying he'd spent the summer with his Camille program only to have it be completely reworked- not to his liking- after a judge came in at a practice and told him the program wouldn't hold up with COP).

And I think that at the end of the day, if you're trying to win Nationals after an exhausting 5 month tour and an Olympic experience behind you, choosing the worst between hopping on a plane to a foreign country twice (3 times if the final is reached) and competing for a week each, with everything that comes along with that, or just not getting the chance to expose your programs to judges before the big events, I'd think the first choice would be more likely to be your demise than the second. Obviously that's for each skater to decide, though. It just seems many are thinkin' the same thing, and I hope they all get some well-earned resting time without repercussions from Cinquinta and co. :frus:

[Alexa]

I completely understand and agree with much all of you are saying. I still just think it is important to not only practice programs, but to compete with them prior to the big events. I realize that Sasha understands the COP, etc, and she can do whatever she wants to do.

So, to each his own--my opinion is that it is a good idea to get some early competitions under your belt.

[Lark]

I am excited to see new skaters compete at the GP Series.

We all know Sasha can win. But what about Taylor, or Liang?

I do not mind seeing Sasha at Nationals and Worlds only. She can bomb there just as easily as the Grand Prix. :lol:

[Alexa]

I am excited to see new skaters compete at the GP Series.

We all know Sasha can win. But what about Taylor, or Liang?

I do not mind seeing Sasha at Nationals and Worlds only. She can bomb there just as easily as the Grand Prix. :lol:

To be honest, I also am looking forward to seeing some of the other skaters. Have to also agree with your last sentence :-)

Though in general I think it is a good idea for skaters to do the GP series, when it comes to Sasha I actually don't care all that much. I think she should do them if she is really serious about skating. But I kind of feel like she is checking out of that area of her life and it will show at Nationals and Worlds.

I like seeing the excitement the other skaters feel about skating, and I don't think Sasha has that anymore.

[skateky]

If a skater has not been doing the international circuit for as long as Sasha, then doing the GP would seem to offer that skater the experience he or she needs. Sasha, on the other hand, has the experience. I think she is being really smart by not doing the GP. As an elite level skater like Sasha does year after year of grueling competitive schedules, it becomes more and more important to give one's body the rest it needs so that the skater can be in top form when it really counts. I do not take her absence as a sign of less interest in skating but a maturing in her emotional and physical development needs.

[Scarlett21]

You see she is so weak. And she will be weak cos she has nothing to show to the audience. I don't respect her cos of her strong wish to be the best and at the same time doing nothing for it. She is so old-fashioned.:giveup: :giveup: :giveup: