Cohen and Nicks Plan for Success
by Mikel Bowman
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<TD class=caption align=middle>Sasha Cohen at the 2004 World Championships exhibition
Photo by Michelle Wojdyla</TD></TR></TABLE>
<P>(12/23/04) - With just over two weeks to go before the start of the State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Portland, Ore., <a href="http://www.usfsa.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2265" target="_blank" >Sasha Cohen</A> decided she needed to make a change if she hoped to compete for a U.S. championship title – and she needed to make it now.</P>
<P>Yesterday (Dec. 22) Cohen announced she would no longer be training with Robin Wagner, and was returning to California to train with her former coach, John Nicks.</P>
<P>“Robin and I are really good friends and we got on really well,” Cohen said, “which is why I stayed there even though my skating was terrible. (But) Mr. Nicks' style of coaching really forces you to motivate yourself. When you compete you're on your own, so I think his style really sets you up to succeed.”</P>
<P>After a stellar 2003-04 season, in which Cohen won the silver medal at both the U.S. Championships and World Championships, this season has seen it's share of disappointments. But according to Cohen, she has not given up on the season just yet, which was another reason she decided to make the change now, rather than later.</P>
<P>The coaching move came as a shock to many, not the least of whom was Nicks, who is also famed for coaching three-time U.S. pairs champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand as well as five-time U.S. pairs champions Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner.</P>
<P>“I was certainly surprised when I heard that Sasha was interested in returning,” Nicks said. “I've been doing a lot of deep-sea fishing over the past 18 months. I haven't paid a lot of attention to figure skating recently.</P>
<P>“But Sasha's mother called, then she, Sasha and myself sat down in a Starbucks and they asked me if I'd be interested in coaching her again. Of course, I said ‘I'd be happy to do that.'”</P>
<P>Cohen trained with Nicks for six years, her longest tenure with any coach, before she decided to go in a different direction last year. Once Nicks agreed to coach Cohen again, she and her family wasted no time returning to California. In fact, Cohen and Nicks have already run through a couple of practice sessions in preparation for U.S. Championships.</P>
<P>Based on what he's seen so far, Nicks believes there is reason to be optimistic about the future, both short-term and long-term.</P>
<P>“She's a talented young lady,” Nicks said. “I think we're going to come to Nationals in good shape. One of the things I've learned over the years is the successful athlete is the confident athlete. Obviously, with what Sasha's been through recently, it's understandable that her confidence is down. But we're working on that and I think it's coming along.”</P>
<P>Cohen has stated her intention is to stay with Nicks at least through the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. But she insists her focus is on the here and now.</P>
<P>“A lot of athletes go through tough times and it's just something you have to push through,” Cohen said, “but I think I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm training very hard to skate my very best and to win my first (U.S. championship) title.”</P><BR clear=all> |
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