Cohen’s plans uncertain

Has figure skating’s biggest star mentally marked Spokane on her 2007 calendar?

Only Sasha Cohen knows for sure, and with the competition still 317 days out, she’s probably not sure whether she wants to continue skating competitively.

“We’ve talked to Sasha. She plans on being here. But then again, who am I?” said Toby Steward, Star USA promoter of the 2007 State Farm U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Jan. 21-28.

Steward’s brief conversation with Cohen was in January, after she won the 2006 nationals in St. Louis. Since then, the 21-year-old won a silver medal at the Turin Olympics and triple-jumped her way into the glamorous world of Hollywood celebrities. At Sunday’s Academy Awards, the Los Angeles native served as a special correspondent for TV’s “Inside Edition.”

She followed the gig on the red carpet by attending star-studded parties. At the Vanity Fair soiree, actor-comedian Ben Stiller offered her a cameo role in his next movie, a comedy focusing on figure skating.

“I want to do it,” was Cohen’s response, reported by The Associated Press. “It’s not like it would be a stretch, and hopefully I’ll get to be funny.”

Before transitioning onto the silver screen, Cohen will attempt to win gold at the 2006 World Championships in Calgary, Alberta, March 20-26. She has won silver the past two years, but with Japanese Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa possibly skipping the competition and bronze medalist Irena Slutskaya announcing she’s passing, Cohen will be the favorite.

The entire U.S. Olympic team plans to compete at worlds, said Lindsay DeWall, director of media relations for U.S. Figure Skating. As for after that, DeWall said no one has made any formal announcements regarding retirement, including five-time world and nine-time national champion Michelle Kwan. However, it is unlikely the 25-year-old will continue competitive skating, despite never winning Olympic gold.

“They majority say they take it ‘day-by-day,’ ” DeWall said, regarding retirement. “Sasha has been very vague about it.”

However, many skaters have been vocal about their futures and say they plan to compete here in 2007 as they look ahead to the 2010 Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Olympic ice dancing silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have told Steward and co-promoter Barb Beddor they plan to skate in Spokane. The elegant and friendly pair has made numerous appearances at the Spokane 2007 ticket-purchasing booth at the past two national championships.

Evan Lysacek, 20, who led the U.S. men with a fourth-place Olympic finish, also plans to continue on.

“We visited with him at the airport on our way out of Torino,” said Steward, who attended the Winter Games as a spectator with his business partner and wife, Beddor. “He’s fully committed to Vancouver 2010.”

Two-time U.S. national champion Johnny Weir, 21, a disappointing fifth at Turin, and seventh-place Matt Savoie, 25, also have indicated they plan to compete in Spokane and beyond. Up-and-comers 16-year-old Kimmie Meissner, sixth in Turin, and 17-year-old Emily Hughes, who finished seventh, also have made the same indications.

“We’re constantly communicating on daily business with U.S. Figure Skating,” said Steward, who will travel to Calgary and set up a Spokane 2007 booth at the venue. “We’re in touch with the people who talk to the athletes. It’s a small world, but then again, it is up to the athletes and they all have their own business plan.”

Conversations also includes Star USA’s latest project – landing the bid for the 2009 World Championships. Steward and Beddor announced their plan to bid on worlds in October, receiving support of Gov. Chris Gregoire. The legislature is expected to pass its supplemental budget today, which includes $100,000 for Spokane’s skating campaign and another $500,000 promised if the city wins the bid.

Steward said the USFSA will narrow their choice of U.S. cities by next week and follow with visits. Its choice will be made by April 10. Soon after, the name will be submitted to the International Skating Union, which will announce the winner sometime between summer and fall.

Steward said he and Beddor don’t know what other U.S. cities plan to make bids but have heard Cleveland, Los Angeles, Nashville and Denver mentioned.

“We’d be very disappointed if we’re not (a U.S.) finalist,” said Steward, whose ticket sales for the 2007 nationals already has surpassed 80,000.