sasha curl

skatingfan05 · #1 03-01-2005, 06:03 PM

i remember she did the "sasha curl" (aka Attitude) alot during the 2000 Nationals, and she did it sometimes during Carmen. Why doesn't she use it in her more recent programs (ie from 03-now)? is it more difficult to do now that she's grown alot?

Bre · #2 03-01-2005, 07:44 PM

I've wondered that too. Its such a stunning position. I've tried to teach myself how to do it, but failed miserably. Lol...I'd love to see her do it again.

Sasha4gold · #3 03-01-2005, 08:23 PM

Can I see a picture of the Sasha Curl? I think I know what it is but am not sure. Is it like a layback position without spinning?

robert · #4 03-01-2005, 08:38 PM

I have seen several photos of Sasha doing the "Sasha Curl" when she was 15 and 16 and possabily 17 also, before she hurt her back, but I'm not sure if she has attempted it since then.

I'm really curious about this particular element. Sasha is the only skater that has ever touched the top of her head with the blade of her unassisted raised free leg while doing a layback, with her two arms stratch backwards and paralel with the ice, with her back, shoulders, head and arms in an exquisite curl-just so graceful!

Now some of you visitors to this site may want to deprive Sasha of the honour of inventing this very, very difficult position, even though she now only raises her leg waist height, like many other skaters do. So before you give me any gobbly gook, you need to show me a photo of anyone else doing the "Sasha Curl" if you can. Do we have a deal?
Robert

**Always_Sasha** · #5 03-01-2005, 08:46 PM

Sasha Curl pics-

http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle...henjensen3.jpg
http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle.../qual-ap-1.jpg
http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle...ng/adams-1.jpg

Her back injury is probably the reason she hasn't been doing them lately.

SashaTarafan · #6 03-01-2005, 10:10 PM

This is one of my favorite Sasha moves. It is stunning seen in action, those pics don't do it justice. I would love to know why she no longer does it. I doubt its because of her back, it's really no different, or harder on the back that a layback spin position, which she HAS to do for competition.

jobelle · #7 03-01-2005, 10:13 PM

Sasha has grown some since the earlier years when she did do this move. I was noticing that she's grown especially in her torso. When she was 15-16 she had really long legs with a shorter waist, now she's lengthened a bit in the torso and maybe with the way she is proportioned now, she can't do the move as well.
I agree though, it's stunning when she did do it.

sasha4ever02 · #8 03-02-2005, 11:32 AM

oooh..I loved that move. maybe she'll bring it back? who knows??

robert · #9 03-02-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Always_Sasha

Sasha Curl pics-

http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle...henjensen3.jpg
http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle.../qual-ap-1.jpg
http://www.sashafans.com/media/galle...ng/adams-1.jpg

Her back injury is probably the reason she hasn't been doing them lately.

I like the third one best. It is the one I've seen taken side on showing the whole exquisite complexity and difficulty of this wonderful element of Sasha's.

No one has come forward with a challenge that Sasha did not invent this element about 1999. And by the way, wasn't it the "opposition" that tried to lable it "Attitude"? Anyway it is clearly a new element and has only ever been done by Sasha, bless her dear heart!
Robert

jobelle · #10 03-02-2005, 06:42 PM

hate to burst your bubble robert, but an attitude position is a pretty basic position that skaters learn. I don't skate but my sister does and so I asked her about it. She said that an attitude spiral is the most basic spiral you do and that you actually start by doing an attitude spin while you are learning your layback spin.
HOWEVER
I guess I can agree with you that sasha invented the "curl" aspect of the attitude spiral. I have never seen anyone else do that.

skatingfan05 · #11 03-02-2005, 07:33 PM

I was watching one of the montages that someone posted (btw thanks! they were great), I think it was this one was called "Journey" (look under the video thread if ya wanna see it for yourself) and in it I saw her perform this move, during the 2000-01 season, and then again during a performance of Carmen. The clip wasn't from the Olympics, maybe it was from Worlds(?) but during this move I notice that she struggled a bit more, and it looked less effortless than when she was younger. Mind you, it was still a beautiful position she hit, but it definately looked more labored and she could no longer actually touch her head to the blade (in this specific clip). Then she hasn't performed the move since...

I'm guessing the height change is the culprit, but it's a shame cuz it was such a unique move.

MKFSfan · #12 03-02-2005, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert

I like the third one best. It is the one I've seen taken side on showing the whole exquisite complexity and difficulty of this wonderful element of Sasha's.

No one has come forward with a challenge that Sasha did not invent this element about 1999. And by the way, wasn't it the "opposition" that tried to lable it "Attitude"? Anyway it is clearly a new element and has only ever been done by Sasha, bless her dear heart!
Robert

I presume I'm one of the people you are referring being "opposition"... I didn't respond right away because I've been away!

Anyway, not to rehash our old renaming elements discussion...I do not think I've ever seen another skater on the senior scene do such a move in their programs that is as extreme as Sasha's curl. I'm a bit confused by what this particular move actually is-I always saw it as part of the choreo. like a leg kick to the side (which both Michelle and Sasha always seem to include), or even a split jump, stag jump, etc. that doesn't preceed a jump itself. In that case, I would think while it is pleasing to see, she probably doesn't get points for doing it-I think originality bonus happens like the 1st time, and that's it. My guess is she doesn't have quite the same limber back flexibility she did at 15, 16, even 17, given that she's grown and her vertabrea fused, coupled with some back injuries.

I've heard the same thing joebell pointed out, all skaters learn this "attitude" position and what made Sasha's stand out is the same exact thing that makes her other elements that you questioned about being renamed stand out-her extreme flexibilty. That's her stamp on her elements, and what I look for in her programs. Honestly, I don't really remember the curl, like when she did them, and what kind of impact it made the program (for me, I mean). Was it part of her spiral sequence? I would imagine if Sasha had continued doing this move, attitude move or what not, and others started to do it as well, maybe it would have gained the recognition as a Sasha inspired or invented move. Anything is possible!

edited to add a PS...Robert, I just read your 1st post again, I don't think this is actually a layback spin position as you hinted...did i read you wrong??? I'm confused! If she did this while doing a layback, I definately missed it!

Which reminds me, a little OT...you know what I thought was a very pretty move Sasha did-that little spin/jump thing she did as she exited her footwork (I think) at Campbells. Remember, when Peggy said,"And watch this pretty move coming up." or something like that. It was taken out after that, but it was so pretty!

robert · #13 03-02-2005, 08:31 PM

Thanks to both Joebelle and my former sparring partner MKFSfan for sorting me out on the "Attitude" position, I'm not a competition skater, so don't know the names of all the basic moves. It just sounded like it might have been something Sasha would be "accused" of as "posing". That's why I asked the question, so my apologies, if I caused any confusion. I do appreciate the feed back. That's how we "Gremmies" learn, so thanks again. And thanks for the confirmation that Sasha is the first and so far the only skater that has performed the "Sasha Curl"
Robert

Edited: Just realized I didn't explain about the "layback" position when Sasha performs the Sasha Curl. It was just my way of explaining the position of her back as she leans backwards to touch her head with her skate. One exquisite photo has Sasha touching the top of her head with the blade of her skate as she is looking horizontally backwards (if that makes sense), but an absolutely georgeous position. Wish I had that photo to provide a link. Maybe someone else knows where it is.

MKFSfan · #14 03-02-2005, 09:04 PM

OK, thanks for explaining Robert! The 1st time I read it, that's what I thought you meant-explaining the curl as the attitude position of the layback! I'm not a FS at all, merely an armchair fan, and everything I have picked up has been from hours of watching any FS competition I can and even more hours spent watching my Kwan tapes over and over, investigating several internet websites and what I've learned on so many different forums!

I don't think "posing" is bad, especially when it's well-done and consists of interesting positions (I've heard people say Michelle's COE spiral covered more ice and was held longer than other skaters to give her time to catch her breath!). I hate when a skater stops dead and stands for several seconds, ala Irina and the "feeding chickens" pose she does this year. (On second note, no offense to Irina, I'm sure she needs a moment with her health being as it is, but she always has these breaks.) Oskana was the queen of posing! Sasha may have breaks in her programs, but I don't think she wastes time, or loses the effect and flow, if that makes sense!

ditzysk8r · #15 03-03-2005, 11:14 AM

Definitely one of my favorite Sasha positions! She probably hasn't used it in a while because of her recent back strain. Hopefully she will bring it back during the Olympic year, since it might get plenty of COP points!