The Future of Russia (Ladies)

[silverlake22]

So I was just noticing recently, there has been an influx of talented female skaters in Russia and I was just curious to hear what people thought of these girls and who they think will go far in the years leading up to Sochi. Among them are:

Alena Leonova (19): 1st 2009 Junior Worlds, 7th 2009 Worlds, 3rd 2009 COR, 2nd 2009 NHK, 6th 2009 GPF, 2nd 2010 Russian Nationals, 9th 2010 Olympics, 13th 2010 Worlds

Ksenia Makarova (17): 2nd 2009 JGP US, 3rd 2009 JGP Belarus, 4th 2009 JGPF, 1st 2010 Russian Nationals, 10th 2010 Olympics, 8th 2010 Worlds

Sofia Birukova (15): 6th 2010 Russian Nationals (1st in SP), 7th 2010 Russian Jr Nationals

Polina Shelepen (14): 1st 2009 JGP Budapest, 1st 2009 JGP Belarus, 2nd 2009 JGPF, 3rd 2010 Russian Jr Nationals, 4th 2010 Junior Worlds

Anna Ovcharova (14): 5th 2009 JGP Budapest, 2nd 2009 JGP Poland, 5th 2009 JGPF, 5th 2010 Russian Nationals, 2nd 2010 Russian Jr Nationals, 5th 2010 Junior Worlds (1st in SP)

Polina Agafonova (14): 3rd 2009 JGP Germany, 6th 2009 JGP Poland, 10th 2010 Russian Nationals, 1st 2010 Russian Jr Nationals, 3rd 2010 Junior Worlds --> may switch to pairs

Adelina Sotnikova (13): 1st 2009 Russian Nationals, 1st 2009 Russian Junior Nationals, 4th 2010 Russian Nationals, 6th 2010 Russian Jr Nationals --> JGP eligible next season

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (13): 2nd 2009 Russian Nationals, 2nd 2009 Russian Junior Nationals, 3rd 2010 Russian Nationals (1st in LP), 4th 2010 Russian Jr Nationals --> JGP eligible next season

Julia Lipiniskaya (11): 5th 2010 Russian Jr Nationals --> shows a lot of promise, amazing spins


I find it interesting because among the junior ladies (Shelepen, Birukova, Ovcharova, Agafonova, Sotnikova, Tutamysheva) they all beat each other at different events. It's hard to say who is better because at every competition it seems like the results are different.

If I had to predict who the forces of the future will be, I'd have to say: Makarova, Tuktamysheva, and Ovcharova. It's so hard to tell though, they are all very good and we will have to see how most of them handle puberty.

[volk]

I think Makarova, Agafonova and Ovcharova will go to Sochi. But now it's too early to predict.

How many spot does Russia have for next Europeans 2 or 3?

[bekalc]

Well reportedly Eliza is landing 3axels in practice now.

[Morning Glory]

Well reportedly Eliza is landing 3axels in practice now.

According to this article (written in Russian), she landed 3A in comp.
http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/2010/04/a_3347493.shtml

My favorite is Polina A. Why she will switch to pairs?

[silverlake22]

According to this article (written in Russian), she landed 3A in comp.
http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/2010/04/a_3347493.shtml

My favorite is Polina A. Why she will switch to pairs?

Eliza is amazing but also very inconsistent (pretty much all of them are - they all beat and lose to each other at various competitions). She definitely has the best jumps and technique of all the ladies but we will have to see how she handles puberty.

Polina A might switch to pairs because she is so little and apparently a few coaches have already taken interest in her switching to pairs. I mean she's 4'7" at age 14 and probably weighs about 70 pounds and judging by the jumps she can do on her own I wouldn't be surprised if she was able to pull off quad throw jumps were she to switch to pairs. I think a lot will depend on puberty - if she loses some of her jumps and a lot of the other girls are pulling ahead, I think she will switch to pairs but if she keeps all her jumps and some of the other girls have issues then she might stick with singles.

I'm so sad Adelina Sotnikova is having such issues recently. I really, really like her skating but she falls so much! Maybe a growthspurt issue, her legs and feet look too big for the rest of her body so hopefully she will adjust soon, but I'm worried for her.

Anna I hope can get 3-3s in the coming season, if she can I think she will do very well. Have you seen this girl's footwork ? It's so intense, apparently her grandparents are both famous actors and that's where she gets her fire from. I know she's kinda wild and unpolished but I really like her, she's fast and has some very nice spirals and spins. Also, I'm hoping she's through the worst of her growth spurt/puberty monster but it's hard to tell. She looks fairly tall, anyone know her height? Anyhow I was so excited when she won the SP at Jr Worlds, the judges clearly like her a lot .

Lepinskaya is only 11 but have you seen her bielman ! It's insane.

[silverlake22]

I think Makarova, Agafonova and Ovcharova will go to Sochi. But now it's too early to predict.

How many spot does Russia have for next Europeans 2 or 3?

Not sure, but Alena was 8th and Ksenia 10th so if it's the 13 rule then that would be only 2. Shelepen, Ovcharova, and Agafonova won't be eligible for Worlds and Europeans until the 2011-2012 season anyway though, meaning the 3rd spot would likely go to Gozeva who isn't that exciting. Shelepen, Ovcharova, and Agafonova WILL be eligible by age to compete on the SGP in the coming season though if they chose to move up - Shelepen and Agafonova have one event each gaurunteed from medaling at the JGPF and Jr Worlds, and while Ovcharova doesn't have any gaurunteed events, if one of the Polinas choses to stay junior she could probably get 2 assignments, COR and then invited to another one thanks to her good scores she got internationally this season. I personally don't think Agafonova is ready for seniors yet because she looks like such a baby but I mean she has the jumps. I think Shelepen and Ovcharova could handle seniors though, Shelepen will be 15 this summer and Anna has a more grown up look on the ice than a lot of the others, plus her SP score at Jr Worlds is promising.

[Nirti]

And we can add Kristina Zaseeva, 13 years old, 8th at senior nats, 9th at junior nats but very strong in the short program (1st at the junior nats SP).

What happen to Nikol Gosviani? She was 6th at Russian Jr last year.

[dlgpffps]

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva seems most promising. Consistency can be trained. Talent such as her's can't. Isn't her coach Mishin?

[silverlake22]

And we can add Kristina Zaseeva, 13 years old, 8th at senior nats, 9th at junior nats but very strong in the short program (1st at the junior nats SP).

What happen to Nikol Gosviani? She was 6th at Russian Jr last year.

Oh yes, Kristina is a rising star as well. There are so many talented young girls, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top these next four years. I don't know much about Nikol Gosivani, but I'm assuming she was too young for the JGP this year and that's why we didn't see her there.

And Mishin is Liza's coach but only part time. Liza's family can't afford to live in St. Petersburg so she travels there like every two weeks to work with Mishin and then works with Svetlana Veretennikova in Glasov the rest of the time, I believe. Apparently she landed a 3a in competition though? Wow.

[☆Genie]

Oh yes, Kristina is a rising star as well. There are so many talented young girls, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top these next four years. I don't know much about Nikol Gosivani, but I'm assuming she was too young for the JGP this year and that's why we didn't see her there.

And Mishin is Liza's coach but only part time. Liza's family can't afford to live in St. Petersburg so she travels there like every two weeks to work with Mishin and then works with Svetlana Veretennikova in Glasov the rest of the time, I believe. Apparently she landed a 3a in competition though? Wow.

Wow thats quite impressive for a 13 year old. Seems similar to Mao too! She was landing 3A at the age of 12, maybe we will see 3-3-3? :D

[silverlake22]

Wow thats quite impressive for a 13 year old. Seems similar to Mao too! She was landing 3A at the age of 12, maybe we will see 3-3-3? :D

Wouldn't put it past her, she already has mastered 2a-3t-2lo. We'll have to see about puberty though, her feet look sort of really big so if she ends up really tall that could hurt her consistency.

In the meantime, I'm impressed with Makarova and looking forward to her progression in the coming years, where she has already gone through puberty I'm not really worried she will run into any serious issues barring injury. Leonova might be coming to the end of the road though, if Shelepen and Agafonova or Ovcharova compete on the SGP in the coming season I wouldn't be surprised if they all had better results that Leonova. I really like the skating of those 3 young girls and Leonova, though fun and peppy and cute, I find quite sloppy and a bit clunky in her crossovers, she needs polish and fast if she doesn't want those younger girls to pass her, they have the jumps to do it in addition to superior spins, spirals, and flexibility (Agafonova and Ovcharova also have very impressive footwork and musicality considering they are both soo young).

[blue_idealist]

I've never seen anybody but Leonova and Makarova. But I think Leonova is slipping and Makarova is rising up. I was really impressed with Makarova at the Worlds this year. I'd be surprised if Leonova is a worlds medalist in the next two seasons, while I think Makarova has a realistic shot at a bronze medal next year.

[silverlake22]

I've never seen anybody but Leonova and Makarova. But I think Leonova is slipping and Makarova is rising up. I was really impressed with Makarova at the Worlds this year. I'd be surprised if Leonova is a worlds medalist in the next two seasons, while I think Makarova has a realistic shot at a bronze medal next year.

ITA

[☆Genie]

Wouldn't put it past her, she already has mastered 2a-3t-2lo. We'll have to see about puberty though, her feet look sort of really big so if she ends up really tall that could hurt her consistency.

In the meantime, I'm impressed with Makarova and looking forward to her progression in the coming years, where she has already gone through puberty I'm not really worried she will run into any serious issues barring injury. Leonova might be coming to the end of the road though, if Shelepen and Agafonova or Ovcharova compete on the SGP in the coming season I wouldn't be surprised if they all had better results that Leonova. I really like the skating of those 3 young girls and Leonova, though fun and peppy and cute, I find quite sloppy and a bit clunky in her crossovers, she needs polish and fast if she doesn't want those younger girls to pass her, they have the jumps to do it in addition to superior spins, spirals, and flexibility (Agafonova and Ovcharova also have very impressive footwork and musicality considering they are both soo young).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB-hmQY1Hp0 <- her juniors performance. Surprised she fell two times, maybe she is expercining pubetry atm? I'm not sure but the jumps here look very forced and small compared to 2009

[silverlake22]

Roza Sheveleva? You don't hear much about her because she's overshadowed by a lot of the other girls, but she certainly has nice posture and presence on the ice in addition to some nice jumps. She finished 5th and 6th at her JGP events this year but bombed at Jr Nationals where she was 16th. She just turned 14 and has a lot of potential I think, with a bit more consistency and technical difficulty I think she can be right up there. She could show improvement and become a factor in coming seasons, Anna was only 16th at Jr Nationals last year and did very well this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4uJuGoPOu8

I like her skating a lot.