By: Jake Silverman, 8th Grade, Grand Ave JR H.S., Bellmore, NY
TeenNewsNet Sports Editor

    I recently conducted a phone interview with Sasha Cohen, the 2006 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist and a headliner of  “Smucker’s Stars on Ice." 

    Sasha, who is now 24 years of age, was extremely friendly and informative during our 15-minute conversation.  In her biography, which was supplied to me prior to our interview, Sasha’s post-competitive skating life has included credits in movies, prime time TV and commercials, with special roles having been written for her to take advantage of her actress/model beauty, her presentation and communication skills and her worldwide fame as an elite skater.

    
    Here are the highlights of my conversation with Sasha:

Jake:      At what age did you start skating?

Sasha:   I started skating when I was seven years old.

Jake:      And when did you realize you wanted to, or were able to, become a   professional skater?

Sasha:   I think at about 12.  It was something that I really, really wanted.  I started to be home-schooled and it became my entire life.

Jake:      Do you have any siblings who skate?

Sasha:   I have one younger sister and she’s 20.  She only skated for about two months when she was five.

Jake:      Growing up, who were you’re favorite skaters?

Sasha:   I liked Tara Lipinski and Kristi Yamaguchi.

Jake:      While going up through the ranks of U.S. events, what was your daily routine like in terms of time practicing on the ice and time in working out?

Sasha:   I would spend three hours or so on the ice, then an hour at ballet or pilates or with a physical therapist doing strengthening exercises and getting treatment.

Jake:      How does the ballet directly affect the figure skating?

Sasha:   It just helps with awareness and form; also, being able to memorize steps and routines and to be able to have an elegant glide.

Jake:      What parts of being in the upper echelon of America’s figure skaters was the most challenging?

Sasha:   It was going through the daily frustrations of being human, like being perfect and falling down and making mistakes and you realize that you have to keep persevering and it’s the people who work the hardest that really make it.

Jake:      What is different between touring and competitive skating?

Sasha:   The tour has a much more grueling schedule with a lot of bus rides.  But the great part is that we learn to work together as a group and do ensemble numbers and be there to support and skate with each other.  When preparing for competitions like the Olympics and events like that, it’s a much more solitary and sheltered lifestyle where you’re in one place and you compete in maybe five or six events a year versus doing something like 50 or 60 shows.

Jake:      What do you enjoy most about doing Stars on Ice?

Sasha:   My favorite part is the artistic challenge of doing new things and being in creative group numbers.  We do one where the whole cast, girls and guys, are dressed the same.  It’s a chance to not only be an athlete but a performer, too, which really appeals to me.

Jake:      Who are some of your best friends on the tour?

Sasha:   We have a really close group of people.  I guess my closest friends are Todd Eldridge, Michael Weiss, Jennifer Robinson, llia Kulik, John Zimmerman and the dance team of  Marie France Dubriel & Patrice Lauzon.

Jake:      What kind of reception have you been getting from crowds around the country?

Sasha:   They’ve been great!  It’s such a great family show.  We’ve been getting standing ovations pretty much every night.  The best thing about it is that there’s something for everyone; so much variety.  When you see skating in person, people are just blown away by the speed and the tricks, and you can see all this energy.  People are just right on the edge of their chairs, so it’s a lot of fun to entertain them.

Jake:      What’s been the toughest part of the tour thus far?

Sasha:   At one point on the tour, we had eight shows in 10 days - - and everyone was coming off the flu.  Between performing and also trying to train, it was quite a challenge for all of us.

Jake:      I know you now have many other interests and talents off the ice.  Which ones excite and challenge you the most?

Sasha:   Pushing myself, pushing my body to try to keep up with the tour and to train and be healthy.  But it’s a fun challenge.

Jake:      My dad has worked for several years with Tim Gunn.  What was your experience being around him on TV’s “Project Runway?”

Sasha:   I spent two days with him and he was really nice and very interested in skating.  He wanted to know a lot about skating and what the life is like.  He’s very professional; it made me feel comfortable being on the show.

Sasha:   Yes, I love having the chance to give back and do different things.  I’ve worked with Make-A-Wish, different cancer awareness foundations and children’s hospitals.  So it’s always different things I do. It’s really nice to raise awareness and get people to pay attention to all these things that are going on . . . and to realize how lucky we are . . . and try to help as much as we can.