Comments on: Cohen’s comeback stalls http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/ “Skating the Issue” explores and examines everything inside the world of figure skating. From opinions and news surrounding the latest competitions, to issues relating to athletes and judging, I provide commentary from an athlete who has been there and lived it. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:35:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: newsmuse http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-351 newsmuse Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:29:42 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-351 Since we're all engaging in a bit of conjecture here, please indulge me with mine. You're right that this much-trumpeted comeback is unlikely to materialize. But what's truly sad here is not that Sasha may not be able to compete, whatever the reason. It would have been nothing short of a miracle if she did. But we have to consider why she felt compelled to even try. No doubt she's smart enough to realize that even if she competed successfully and made the Olympic team, she wouldn't be competitive with the likes of Yu-na Kim. Since she's an Olympian already, and a popular one at that, she had nothing to prove. I can only surmise that with professional skating opportunities vanishing, an attempted comeback, even if unsuccessful, can become a skater's only means of regaining publicity. I'm neither bashing Sasha if that was her motivation (which I don't know), nor supporting her choice. I'm just sad to see our sport in such dire straights. I suspect that if skating still supported tours like Champions on Ice and professional competitions, skaters like Cohen, Lambiel and Plushenko would see no reason to risk so much for so little. Since we’re all engaging in a bit of conjecture here, please indulge me with mine. You’re right that this much-trumpeted comeback is unlikely to materialize. But what’s truly sad here is not that Sasha may not be able to compete, whatever the reason. It would have been nothing short of a miracle if she did. But we have to consider why she felt compelled to even try.

No doubt she’s smart enough to realize that even if she competed successfully and made the Olympic team, she wouldn’t be competitive with the likes of Yu-na Kim. Since she’s an Olympian already, and a popular one at that, she had nothing to prove. I can only surmise that with professional skating opportunities vanishing, an attempted comeback, even if unsuccessful, can become a skater’s only means of regaining publicity. I’m neither bashing Sasha if that was her motivation (which I don’t know), nor supporting her choice. I’m just sad to see our sport in such dire straights. I suspect that if skating still supported tours like Champions on Ice and professional competitions, skaters like Cohen, Lambiel and Plushenko would see no reason to risk so much for so little.

]]> By: Jennifer Kirk http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Jennifer Kirk Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:11:01 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-348 Thank you! With an injured right calf, it seems Sasha would experience pain every time she landed regardless of what jump she was attempting. There's a ton of force put on a skater's landing leg, and the injury would probably affect her triple loop takeoff as well. (For a "righty" jumper, a solid triple loop is dependent on a strong vault from their right leg.) That said, from what Sasha's said it appears she doesn't experience as much pain on her loop, toe, and sal, so it would be smart for her to focus on those elements and complete a program like the one you mapped out above. Although this would be a wise plan, and if skated cleanly would probably keep her in the top five at Nationals, I don't see Sasha doing this. Thank you! With an injured right calf, it seems Sasha would experience pain every time she landed regardless of what jump she was attempting. There’s a ton of force put on a skater’s landing leg, and the injury would probably affect her triple loop takeoff as well. (For a “righty” jumper, a solid triple loop is dependent on a strong vault from their right leg.) That said, from what Sasha’s said it appears she doesn’t experience as much pain on her loop, toe, and sal, so it would be smart for her to focus on those elements and complete a program like the one you mapped out above. Although this would be a wise plan, and if skated cleanly would probably keep her in the top five at Nationals, I don’t see Sasha doing this.

]]> By: calbskate http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-347 calbskate Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:10:48 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-347 Hey Jenny...Ive been reading your articles for a while but never commented...just wanted to first commend you on being very on point and insightful!...and good job on COC commentary as well...when are you going to do commentary again? Ok so regarding sasha's jumps...If she can't land lutz and flips due to her injury, do you think it will be wise for her to do 2 3loops and 2 3sals in the program and then put 3 2axels in there too? I mean if she can do these really well she will get +GOE's and look at Kiira Korpi..she got quite good score even when she didnt land lutz and didnt have flip or toes and also popped 1 3sal in her long at COC. Sasha's jump layout can be something like 3loop2toe2toe 3loop 3sal2toe 3sal 2axel2axel sequence 2axel 3toe in any order...what do you think? And also, does her injury affect takeoff or 3loop too? I'm not a skater so I don't really know. Thank you!! :) Hey Jenny…Ive been reading your articles for a while but never commented…just wanted to first commend you on being very on point and insightful!…and good job on COC commentary as well…when are you going to do commentary again?
Ok so regarding sasha’s jumps…If she can’t land lutz and flips due to her injury, do you think it will be wise for her to do 2 3loops and 2 3sals in the program and then put 3 2axels in there too? I mean if she can do these really well she will get +GOE’s and look at Kiira Korpi..she got quite good score even when she didnt land lutz and didnt have flip or toes and also popped 1 3sal in her long at COC. Sasha’s jump layout can be something like
3loop2toe2toe
3loop
3sal2toe
3sal
2axel2axel sequence
2axel
3toe
in any order…what do you think? And also, does her injury affect takeoff or 3loop too? I’m not a skater so I don’t really know. Thank you!! :)

]]> By: rissole http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-346 rissole Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:45:56 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-346 Oops, make that Sochi. Oops, make that Sochi.

]]> By: rissole http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-345 rissole Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:43:55 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-345 Great article, Jennifer. Well, I'd say there's some good news and some bad news. The bad news: We may not get to see Sasha compete at all this year. The good news: She has plenty of time to rest before 2014. ;) (I wonder if USFS already set the date for that press conference? "Sasha to eat sushi in Soshi." :lol:) Great article, Jennifer.

Well, I’d say there’s some good news and some bad news.

The bad news: We may not get to see Sasha compete at all this year.

The good news: She has plenty of time to rest before 2014. ;) (I wonder if USFS already set the date for that press conference? “Sasha to eat sushi in Soshi.” :lol: )

]]> By: u291832 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-344 u291832 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:42:47 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-344 I would be highly surprised if Cohen makes it to Vancouver as an Olympian. But, who knows, maybe she'll use this doubt about her to fuel her?? I would be highly surprised if Cohen makes it to Vancouver as an Olympian. But, who knows, maybe she’ll use this doubt about her to fuel her??

]]> By: davelease http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-343 davelease Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:25:49 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-343 The USFSA has known for quite some time that Sasha would not be skating at Skate America. They chose to milk the publicity for as long as they possibly could. From all accounts, Sasha does have programs, dresses and even pulls off triple-triples in practice. She is also as inconsistent as ever. The USFSA has known for quite some time that Sasha would not be skating at Skate America. They chose to milk the publicity for as long as they possibly could.

From all accounts, Sasha does have programs, dresses and even pulls off triple-triples in practice. She is also as inconsistent as ever.

]]> By: Megan Cottrell http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/2009/11/09/cohens-comeback-stalls/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Megan Cottrell Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:41:01 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/?p=963#comment-341 I hope she gets better! She's one of my favorites! I hope she gets better! She’s one of my favorites!

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