Look for Sasha Cohen’s comeback tour to include a stop at Skate America

Cohen eager to be swept up in Olympic tidal wave

Sasha Cohen fans, mark your calendars.

It’s a “logical assumption” the Olympic silver medalist will be at Skate America in November, U.S. Figure Skating executive director David Raith said Friday. Cohen announced this week she’s returning to competitive skating after a three-year layoff in hopes of making the Vancouver Games.

Grand Prix assignments will be made May 30. Because Cohen didn’t compete in last year’s Grand Prix series, she is not automatically eligible for this season’s events and has to be invited by the individual organizers.

But she remains one of the most popular figures in skating, with only Kim Yu-na and Mao Asada able to generate more buzz.

“She’s not automatic. But I think when her name shows up on the list, she’ll be one of the first chosen,” Raith said.

Skate America, which is Nov. 13-15 in Lake Placid, N.Y., has the first rights to Cohen.

Raith said he also thinks one of the earlier events — Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris, the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow or Cup of China in Beijing — will have interest.

“I’m so excited to be back and just to do this again,” Cohen said Friday. “I missed having a challenge to step up to and say, ‘Am I capable of this? Can I do this? What are my limits? What can I become?

“I know I would regret so much if I didn’t come back and challenge myself and see what I can do.”

Burnt out at the end of 2006, Cohen took a break from competition to explore other interests, including acting. But she left open the possibility of returning for Vancouver, and stayed in shape by headlining the “Smuckers Stars on Ice” tour.

She said Friday she’s been working with new coach Rafael Arutunian for six months, and has already seen an improvement in her jumps. She was doing triples with ease at a “Stars” show last month, and said she’s “very close” to doing the triple-triple combinations she’ll need to compete with Kim and Asada.

“You don’t want to go just to be your best, you want to be the best,” Cohen said. “There are amazing skaters out there, technically and artistically. That’s great, though, because great skaters bring out the best in you.

“I’m excited for the challenge, I’m excited to start with the Grand Prixs and see where I’m at.”

Cohen’s strength has always been her artistry and expression, and some feel that has lessened in importance under the current judging system. But Cohen has experience in this system — did very well in it, in fact — and said it’s all a matter of knowing how to put the programs together.

Besides, Kim’s runaway victory at the world championships shows beauty can still trump brawn.

“She’s aware of what it takes to be at the top, and I think that’s a great plus for her,” Raith said. “She’s knowledgeable, extremely talented and we look forward to her participation.”

Cohen’s return is a boost for the entire sport, particularly the Americans.

U.S. women have traditionally dominated figure skating, winning seven Olympic gold medals, including three of the past five. They’ve claimed at least one medal at every Winter Games since 1952 except in 1964, which came three years after a plane crash killed the entire U.S. team.

But the Americans have struggled without Cohen and Michelle Kwan, who also hasn’t skated since 2006. The U.S. women failed to win a medal at the world championships in March, the third straight year they’ve gone home empty-handed.

Worse, Rachael Flatt and Alissa Czisny’s combined placement was only good enough to earn the Americans two spots in Vancouver. It’s only the second time since 1924 the United States has failed to earn the maximum three spots. The other was in 1994.

That will make Cohen’s goal of getting to Vancouver even harder, but she insists she’s up for the challenge.

“This is what I want to do,” she said, “and fear of failure is not going to stop me from trying.”

After “Stars” finishes its Canadian tour next week — Cohen had a show in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday night — Cohen will take two weeks off to let tendinitis in her left ankle heal and get some rest.

Then it’s back to training with Arutunian, who has worked with Kwan and Asada, in Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

“I’m just really excited to have this purpose in my life again,” Cohen said. “I love the whole tidal wave that comes, pushing you into the Olympic Games. I love the way America supports its athletes and I love the way everyone loves to watch figure skating in the Olympics.

“This whole magic behind the Olympic Games is just absolutely incredible.”