Skate America

Ok, I guess I will do the honors of starting a thread for Skate America.

So first news about S.A.: Sasha has withdrawn again . Emily Hughes will replace her. Many people were already predicting this would happen, but I was really hoping they would be proved wrong. Once again, Sashas fans will have to wait to see her come back. I was pretty excited to see her skate again. She is my second fave next to Mao. So if we're lucky, we'll get to see her compete a whopping three times at most this season . And I don't think she will be coming back next season no matter what. Dissapointing

Takahito Mura has also withdrawn due to injury. He has been replaced by Igor Macypura of Slovakia. I'm not familiar with either of them.

Gosh, this has been a horrible season for injuries! I don't even think I can keep up with them all!

I've very disappointed that Sasha has withdrawn again. I was so looking forward to seeing her skate competitively again. She used to be my favourite skater, before I became aware of Mao.

I wish Sasha all the best at Nationals, but I have this feeling that we'll only get a repeat of what's happened with the Grand Prix. I hope that Sasha will prove me wrong and come back stronger than before.

Wow, I didn't realise Emily Hughes was still competing. I'm kinda behind in terms of the U.S. figure-skating scene.

chineseteacup wrote:

Wow, I didn't realise Emily Hughes was still competing. I'm kinda behind in terms of the U.S. figure-skating scene.

Her only international competition was TEB last year, if I'm not mistaken. I'm sincerely hoping Sasha isn't going to pull an MK (i.e., announcing a return to competition but ultimately not competing) but like chineseteacup I have a horrible feeling she will.

clovera wrote:

chineseteacup wrote:

Wow, I didn't realise Emily Hughes was still competing. I'm kinda behind in terms of the U.S. figure-skating scene.

I'm sincerely hoping Sasha isn't going to pull an MK (i.e., announcing a return to competition but ultimately not competing) but like chineseteacup I have a horrible feeling she will.

That's what worries me.... I don't want her to ask USFigureSkating to send her to the olympics (like Michelle Kwan did) when she'll not have competed all season long, this would be ridiculous! They are about 6 us ladies who will battle the spot on the olympic team and they all deserve it, but there are only 2 spots..

I really REALLY want to see Sasha skate at the Olympics again, but I do understand that it would be unfair to the other skaters competing for the honour if USFSA (is that what they're called?) found some sort of loophole in the regulations and sent Sasha even when the other skaters skated better.

That being said, I hope that Sasha will do her utmost best at Nationals so there'll be a legitimate reason to send her.

Thank you for the news.
Anybody know why Sasha has withdrawn ? Like many people, I predicted that this would happen. Maybe she's not motivated anymore after seeing weird scores in the GPS. I bet she won't be competing at all and if my prediction is right, I understand her.

chineseteacup wrote:

I really REALLY want to see Sasha skate at the Olympics again, but I do understand that it would be unfair to the other skaters competing for the honour if USFSA (is that what they're called?) found some sort of loophole in the regulations and sent Sasha even when the other skaters skated better.

That being said, I hope that Sasha will do her utmost best at Nationals so there'll be a legitimate reason to send her.

I agree. I really really want to see her skate at the Olympics again too, but it really wouldn't be fair if she were to get there that way. Not only has she not competed all season, but she hasn't competed for four years.

ddmm wrote:

Thank you for the news.
Anybody know why Sasha has withdrawn ? Like many people, I predicted that this would happen. Maybe she's not motivated anymore after seeing weird scores in the GPS. I bet she won't be competing at all and if my prediction is right, I understand her.

ddmm: Sasha withdrew because she is still battleling the same injury which caused her to withdraw from TEB.

I don't think she is unmotivated. She was motivated enough to make a comback, and hire a coach, choreographer, and buy all her dresses, and skates out of her own pocket (she hasn't competed recently enough for USFSA to sponser her this season). If she actually is physically capable of competing right now, I think the reason she isn't being honest about it would be because she isn't confident that her skating is up to par yet, and wants more time. I kind of doubt this is the case though. I truely do believe she is injured, and just wants to be extra careful worsen her injury, since the olympics are so close.

I agree, Star85. Despite her taking a four-year gap in competitive skating and withdrawing from both of her GP events, I believe that Sasha made her comeback announcement in good faith. When you take into consideration all the effort she has gone to re-organise her skating career (hiring a coach, choreographer etc. - as you said), no one can dismiss this as a publicity stunt. And that wouldn't be consistent with what people who follow Sasha's skating know about her. She does genuinely love skating, or she wouldn't have come this far.

I think that ddmm also may be onto something. Whilst there's no doubt in terms of Sasha's desire to return to competition, the motivation factor may be causing her some trouble. The scores in the GPS may be one factor in all this. I think that the prospect of competing against the current 'Greats', Mao and Yu-Na, would be off-putting to anyone who hasn't been skating competitively for such a long time.

But yes, I think that Sasha has withdrawn because of her injuries too. Unfortunately, for as beautiful a sport as figure-skating, there are a minefield of dangers and risks of injuries. I hope it's nothing too serious!

Omg, I wanted to see Sasha skate because she is the only female that can bring back the artistic side in figure skating!! Like you know her romeo and julliet, THAT WAS REAL EMOTION! Not some forced emotion because the coach told you do so, (everybody is doing the O shape thing these days)......I wish the artistic part of figure skating makes a comeback and it's always about the amount of triples you do, but if your overall performance is enough to bring people to tears and make them speechless(like claire de lune) then it means more than anything. More than how many triples you land. Because in the end, you feel happy for doing what you love.

Oh no, it`s enough, she is one of my favorites figure skaters, or she was. first she was not to TEB and I was so sad, then Mao with all her problems now , this is too much for me, then I am going to worried just for someone that really worth it, and is Mao of course . Thanks Sasha for yours past performances, but it is enough for me, I am sure she won`t be at Nat, but if for some weird reason she is there , I just will go to bathroom or drink water during her performance .

sorry my english

Oh no, it`s enough, she is one of my favorites figure skaters, or she was. first she was not to TEB and I was so sad, then Mao with all her problems now , this is too much for me, then I am going to worried just for someone that really worth it, and is Mao of course . Thanks Sasha for yours past performances, but it is enough for me, I am sure she won`t be at Nat, but if for some weird reason she is there , I just will go to bathroom or to drink water during her performance .

Hello Everyone!
I'm in lake placid and I watched some of the practices today. I got Yu Na's autograph and a picture with her! She's really sweet, just like Mao ! I called her name once and she came to see us right away, I was really suprised loll... I thought it would be difficult to get to see her because of all the medias and stuff but no, I got it on the first day

That's great that you got her autograph, bibi!

She was very nice when I asked for her autograph at Worlds, but since she just happened to pass by and I wasn't prepared, my mom and I totally made fools of ourselves...couldn't get the camera to work, couldn't find my pen, etc...oh it was pathetic..

When I saw her later I swore she looked at me and was like, "that's that crazy girl!"

Batsuchan wrote:

That's great that you got her autograph, bibi!

She was very nice when I asked for her autograph at Worlds, but since she just happened to pass by and I wasn't prepared, my mom and I totally made fools of ourselves...couldn't get the camera to work, couldn't find my pen, etc...oh it was pathetic..

When I saw her later I swore she looked at me and was like, "that's that crazy girl!"

haha, I can understand you a little bit ahah, I was pretty nervous too

☆Genie wrote:

Omg, I wanted to see Sasha skate because she is the only female that can bring back the artistic side in figure skating!! Like you know her romeo and julliet, THAT WAS REAL EMOTION! Not some forced emotion because the coach told you do so, (everybody is doing the O shape thing these days)......I wish the artistic part of figure skating makes a comeback and it's always about the amount of triples you do, but if your overall performance is enough to bring people to tears and make them speechless(like claire de lune) then it means more than anything. More than how many triples you land. Because in the end, you feel happy for doing what you love.

I know. She should compete at SA. She can just show up, try to land 3 triple jumps, the make on other jump a double and land them cleanly. With that, I think she will be on the podium. But too bad, she decide not to compete

I really really want to see Sasha here cause I want to see how the judges will do on the PCS on Sasha vs Yuna.

bibi wrote:

Hello Everyone!
I'm in lake placid and I watched some of the practices today. I got Yu Na's autograph and a picture with her! She's really sweet, just like Mao ! I called her name once and she came to see us right away, I was really suprised loll... I thought it would be difficult to get to see her because of all the medias and stuff but no, I got it on the first day

Lucky you, you make me jealous . I wish I can watch it live too. Can you please give us some report on the practices since you have chance watching them. How is Yuna speed? Many commentators talking about Yuna speed when she skate. So, could you please give us some report on that too.

Thanks!

Bibi, you are so lucky! You now have autographs and pics with both Mao and Yuna! Since Mao and Miki aren't competitng, my whole support goes to Yuna. hehe...

Hope you have fun at SA, bibi! And Yu-Na sounds very friendly

And happy (belated) 18th birthday!

bibi wrote:

Hello Everyone!
I'm in lake placid and I watched some of the practices today. I got Yu Na's autograph and a picture with her! She's really sweet, just like Mao ! I called her name once and she came to see us right away, I was really suprised loll... I thought it would be difficult to get to see her because of all the medias and stuff but no, I got it on the first day

OMG, I am so jealous, Bibi! I hope I can meet her too, but as I'm arriving in Lake Placid tonight when the competition starts, it's probably going to be more difficult to get her autograph than in practice. Great to hear she was nice, though-- I've never heard anything different! I love how Mao and Yuna are billed as these great rivals and skaters, but are actually very sweet and humble women.

coolmeia wrote:

bibi wrote:

Hello Everyone!
I'm in lake placid and I watched some of the practices today. I got Yu Na's autograph and a picture with her! She's really sweet, just like Mao ! I called her name once and she came to see us right away, I was really suprised loll... I thought it would be difficult to get to see her because of all the medias and stuff but no, I got it on the first day

Lucky you, you make me jealous . I wish I can watch it live too. Can you please give us some report on the practices since you have chance watching them. How is Yuna speed? Many commentators talking about Yuna speed when she skate. So, could you please give us some report on that too.

Thanks!

Yu-Na's speed is definetely superior to any ladies competing here in Skate America...she just has to do a few crossovers and she gains a lot of speed. I can't compare it to Carolina Kostner, for example, because she's not competing here, but Yu Na is really fast.

Wow you're lucky bibi! You too Liffey! It seems like you get to do lot's of really cool stuff bibi, and you're only 18! I'm so jealous!

I got to see Yuna at SA last year, but I never got to meet her. She made eye contact with me though! lol. And Miki smiled at me... Ok I'm rambling. haha.

YUNA! Please get your act together for the short program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cNbHdl_ZVc
She was the only person left in my opinion that looked solid coming into the olympics! I really hope she does well. ><.

She definitely has problem with her 3F but don't worry, she'll still get high score.

ddmm wrote:

She definitely has problem with her 3F but don't worry, she'll still get high score.

Yeah, I'm sure her PCS will carry her to the top despite this

WOW!!!!