Who is Russia's best skater going into Sochi? | Golden Skate

Who is Russia's best skater going into Sochi?

skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Lots of talk about who is best, who is too young, who is a headcae, who has the 3x3 in practice. Please help me folks...I am so confused. Leonova seems their most consistent jumper with the babies unable to put two programs together, though this is just the beginning. Last year I was smitten by Liza and thought she could win everything. This year she is heavier, slower. We have small (short I mean) men and women and 5 pounds (which comes on in water weight monthly if one is mestruating_frankly,) can come on young girls-any girl overnight and throwe off a jump. I have no idea if Liza is going to look Like Elene G when she finishes filling out. All I know is bust and hips wreck a great jumper. Leonova is 21? CMIIW. (Correct me new acronym for the fatigued or lazy). Liza is injured so it is easy that 5 pounds might just creeep on her tiny frame. Adelina is wonderful, but this girl is not done growing. People were writing her off. I have been a fan of Ksenia since Vancouver where I got back in touch with skating after a few years of too occupied. She does not land her jumps in competition but I like her skating basics and her programs. She is lovely but never lands them and I don't expect that to change.

There are Polina S who I have seen a little. Her costume at SC blinded me , lol and she was nothing special. I have seen and liked a few times Korobeynikova but no one talks about her, so I assume she does not have the tech marks as she is nice to watch. Who else is on the cusp? Julia L is being touted as the true one to watch for Sochi. I know no one can guess which 3 ladies will be on the Sochi team, but if held this year, who would you choose. I like Leonova-her spunk, and grew to admire her just last year as she had a good sp, though she was too grungy a pirate-i prefer well dressed pirates, but her LP was awfully choreographed Morovzovian _____! I am not his fan and never have beeb after SLC's Yagudin Winter-who alledgedly had his SP done by Morozov tho I belive TAT had a hand in it. Still she performs the heck out of whatever she is given. Generally, I hate her packaging, but she seems a fairly consistent jumper and the only world medalist since Irina left. Adelina did much better than Tut. zWhatever charmed me last year, and she did, is gone now. One bad event does not a career make, I know. I am heartbroken at Gracie's meltdown. If she had the killer look as Prettykeys mentioned that winners like MK have. I'd feel confident. Somehow, it seems like we likely may be shut out between the Japanese and one wonderbaby from Russia. Who would you choose for the three spots based on how they have competed thus far through novice, junior, seniors? Who looks like they have killer instinct and jump technique to match? I am guessing Japan will have Mao, Akikko, Kanako or Haruka unless injury intervenes.I think Miki is done. I am not sure Ashley is capable of the most difficult 3x3. She is slow and does not have height compared to the Japanese ladies. Then there is Yuna, and it seems she is training 8 hours a day. So unless Gracies shows killer instinct (she doesn't) I am afraid we hyped her up too much. She is stunning and I like her skating, but it seems her big chance is to be a reliable combo jumper. I look at MK at 15 and it was there, as PK said. One cannot fake this. I think Gracie does not look like a killer, nor a headcase, but I have adjusted my expectations. We may have one spot to Sochi, and Ashley will be in her first Olympics. I am already trying tom say it is okay if we finish 4 anf 7 again in Sochi. Anyone see it different? I hope so, as it clearly seems between 4 asian ladies from asia and the best of the Russian trio.

MK had it, Tara had it big time. Sarah felt at 16 she could challenge the best and meant it. Witt had it. Arakawa had it, masked in demureness. Irina had it, even when people did not like her skating so much. Yuna had it big time and the scary part is maybe she still does. Maybe she is keeping expectations low in Korea while practicing like a crazed woman. WOul cool as ice Yuna be happy with bronze or lower? I think she is going to find her old self at these competitions and show us all who is who. The low key humble talk is strategy to fly under the radar this year. Look at Patrick-he was beaten rightly so by Javier, and he is a veteran 2xWC with one OLy under his belt. I can't expect miracles from Ashley or this young Goldie kid who got too excited and rushed all her jumps. Nerves of steel win, and Osmond skated like a veteran, smiling all the way at SC. Still I see her body as her enemy, she will change and grow out. Kimmie Meissner had the killer instinct but her body betrayed her, and injury.

Anyway, I just want the russian skater cognoscenti to tell me their best ladies trio and why. Olympics is very close and only injury will screw up the 3 destined to go.:confused:
 
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pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
That is easy. Julia Lipnitskaya by far. She will easily take over as Russians #1 next year, she really is already but of course not age eligible for Worlds, but will be for Sochi and Worlds next year. She will definitely be Russian #1 and is a major threat for the Olympic Gold next year.

The other 2 Olympians for Russia (if they even qualify 3 with Julia L. not at Worlds) could be a number of ladies but if I had to guess I would say Elizaveta and Adelina. I think Alena Leonova probably peaked last year, and with age and her general problem with nerves as an Olympics nears will start to slow down. The rest I see as long shots at best to make it barring major improvement.
 

koatcue

Medalist
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Country
Russia
Julia hasn't dealt with growth spurt as the other girls. I believe in Liza - she has almost done growing and she has killer jump technique. For me she is THE best jumper in the world.Now she deals with her weight but that will go. Adelina...I'm not sure about Sochi but someday she will be a champion a la Carolina Costner.I hope so)
 

sky_fly20

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Julia Lipnitskaya, the response from the crowd she gets is something very special.

the most crucial will be next season, if Russia only get 2 spots for Olympics
onw of Adelina or Liza will be left out, I think it could be Adelina and Julia going

Liza though I expect her to be ready by the end of the season still has low pcs marks from the judges,
hope Liza loses her weight from injury soon
 

Li'Kitsu

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Julia is just getting the same hype Adelina, Liza and Gracie got those last seasons, and that Osmond is facing now too. But it's way to early to anoint her as the second coming either.

Her only real advantages are her hyperflexibilty (which is already nothing exciting anymore for me, because her choreography isn't making any good use of it), and her consistency. The latter is a great thing, but who knows if she'll keep that through the higher expectations of seniors and her own growth issues. Especially her axel... to me that one looks pretty bad. There's like absolutly no height in it, no power... let her gain some weight and maybe it will become hard for her to rotate that one.
That said, what puts Julia ahead of the rest of the field is her presence and self-confidence. She's so sure about herself for someone so young! That really is something special... but mainly because it usually takes longer for those girls to develop it. Adelina and Liza have one full senior season to gain experience and that self-confidence, and then it won't matter if it took them longer or not. The only thing that counts is having it (look at Ashley!).
Which brings up the next point: experience. Julia won't be at any major senior event before the Olympics maybe except euros 2014! I know she did a great job so far as a competitor, but this is really soemthing else. She might just hit the age of becoming more self-aware being 15 then and all too.

For the other girls: I still think Adelina is the most talented all around of the bunch. Her jumps have great power, height and ice coverage. She has much speed, great flexibility, and she's developing as a performer. She needs the consistency and that one badly, but she still has another year. I think she changed a lot since last year, mentally too. Adding the double jumps to her 3Lo at SA was a mistake because of the Zayak rule, but I think it showed she really wanted to fight for those points and medals. She didn't give up because of her mistakes and kept performing, something I didn't realize so strongly about her last year. She's on the right track.
I do agree though that 2014 might be too early for her. She'll just be 17 then. Maybe some posters like to treat it that way, but it's no shame being still far from your peak when you're still that young.

Despite a 4th place at SC, I think Liza looked pretty good! skateluvr, I can't agree at all with you that she looked slow and heavy! She seems to have worked so much on speed and ice coverage, and her spins are getting better too. Given her recent problems I think she did great. It looks like she won't be making the GPF, but who cares. It would just tire her out too much before russian nationals anyway. And maybe she'll have her growth issues put behind her by then anyway, even if she's still missing the 3Lz-3T "just" 3T-3T is enough for that actual ladies field anyway.
Besides, she does have the confidence when she's on - with a little more work on her PCS (and jugdes NOT low-balling her like they did at SC :sarcasm: ) she'll be a great competitor. Her great musicality is a plus too.

Alena is still in the mix too, we'll have to wait and see how this season goes on. Others like Polina K., Polina S. have probably put themselfves out of the game. Even if they start to deliver better results, I'd still think the others are considered to have better chances...

Additionally, I don't see russia losing their 3. spot for the ladies. To whom?:unsure:
For Sochi on the other hand, I think it's pretty likely there won't be a russian on top of the podium.
 

FSGMT

Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 10, 2012
I think that, at the moment, Julia is the best, but if the "puberty monster" hits her in the next months or within this summer, she could be in Liza's or Zhang's situation by 2013 fall, who knows? A year ago, Liza looked unbeatable, now she's (unfairly, I agree) fourth in her first GP of the season... I think Adelina is the best: she has already passed the puberty period (or, she's finishing it), and her jumps look still good, she just needs consistency, and we talked about it millions times! :laugh: Alena Leonova could easily be out of the Olympic team if Julia, Liza and Adelina skate as good as they're able to, but she can be a factor, if she is in last season's shape. And then there are Korobeneykova, Shelepen :)bang:) and Makarova, I think they are out of the race for being in the Olympic team, unless someone of them changes like Alissa or Ashley did in the next year... So, I would pick Lipnitskaya, Tuktamysheva and Sotnikova...
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2012
Country
Russia
Comparing Adelina and Julia.
Julia is two years younger than Adelina (05 Jun 1998 and 01 Jul 1996 respectively).

Adelina's best seasons were 2008/09 and 2010/11. 2009/10 and 2011/12 were much worse.

Adelina's 2008/09 and 2010/11 for Julia mean 2010/11 and 2012/13. Batween these seasons Julia had winning 2011/12.
At 2012/13 she shows us new 3Lz+3T combo.
So Julia shows not Adelina's "better, worse, better", but "better, better, better".
 

let`s talk

Match Penalty
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Adelina- she is Putin's favourite.

Liza- Mishin will make her come to the right sport form in time.

Julia- she is a rocket Ground to Air that follows her route and doesn't care much about anyone or anything else.


Not sure about the order though.
 

Cherryy

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 27, 2012
Adelina- she is Putin's favourite.

:laugh:

Now, seriously. I love Liza, so I'll bet on her. She has great jumping technique, she skates TO the music, no just through it, she has her own style, which I like. I also think she's quite cosistent. Her SC performance this year was not by her standards, but that's mainly because of injury. I wouldn't say puberty is giving her all that trouble.

Adelina is also becoming a great performer, but she's not consistent. If both she and Liza skate clean it's hard for me to say, who's better. Adelina also has great jumps and great spins. I love her sp this year but I don't find her lp that much entertaining. I hope she tries sth completely different next season.

As for Julia, I'm in the minority here but I wouldn't assume so easily she's the main contender for the gold in 2014. She's 14 (right?), her jumps are small thus she's likely to loose them if she gains some weight, which is also likely to happen. As someone has said here, her flexibility is not that much impressive, since she is not able to use it in her programs properly. Generaly, she's neither listening to the music while skating, nor showing changes that take place in her music.
Also, 2013-14 will be her first season in seniors as for europeans, worlds and olympics. It's not going to be easy. She won't have the reputation like other skaters have or may gain. The result of 2013 worlds WILL have a huge impact in the olympic season. It rarely happens (actually, has it ever happened? :think:) that olympic medallists hadn't medaled in the previous 2 world championships.

Leonova has some problems with her concentration and nerves but certainly has a reputation and experience, which is her biggest advantage right now.

I also wouldn't forget about Polina K. Although she has very little chance of making the olympic team, if she skates the program of her life (like 2012 euros LP) then who knows...
 

plushyfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Country
Hungary
I trust in Liza! She will be in great sporting form in this sason, and in Sochi too.
 

guanchi

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
One day, as Julia L. is on the ice skating to Malaguena, she will BAM hit the puberty wall, and then BAM into Osmond doing Carmen.
Then her tiny jumps will be even smaller than Tara's. Sorry j/k

But I still say Liza first, because of her technique and better consistency over Adelina, even though Adelina may be right now a better all-around skater.
 

guanchi

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
A good thing about Julia L. is that like Sasha Cohen, who many compare her to due to their extreme flexiblities, is that they are both very strong in their core, which accounts for their excellent spins, but also their ability to quickly rotate in the air. Neither have big jumps, but they are some of the fastest to rotate I've ever seen in ladies. This might help Julia, even with the puberty bug, as long as she lands her jumps (and she is great at sticking those landings).
 

drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
For me ADELINA is #1 and LIZA is #2.

A good thing about Julia L. is that like Sasha Cohen, who many compare her to due to their extreme flexiblities, is that they are both very strong in their core, which accounts for their excellent spins, but also their ability to quickly rotate in the air. Neither have big jumps, but they are some of the fastest to rotate I've ever seen in ladies. This might help Julia, even with the puberty bug, as long as she lands her jumps (and she is great at sticking those landings).

I don't like Julia's choreography at all. She is very flexible but does random flexibility moves that have no correlation to the music, nor are they particularly attractive positions aside from the impressive flexibility. I prefer skaters who move around the ice in an elegant way with smooth stroking, rather than someone who wants to Charlotte from one side of the rink to the other.
 

Barb

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
1. Liza 2. Adelina 3. Julia, It´s ok if you like Julia but like a bet for the future no, come on, in that case I prefer Elena Radionova but she is too much young now. Liza and Adelina are in the other side, Liza is injured then we need see later.
 

silverlake22

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2009
Liza and Adelina are both struggling a bit now due to growing pains related to puberty. In previous seasons they were dominant and seemed like a "sure thing" just like Julia now, there is no saying that Julia will not struggle with the same problems in the future. Perhaps she will luck out and not be hard hit by puberty, or maybe it won't happen until after Sochi for her, but there's a good chance she could be undergoing those problems right around Sochi, so I am cautious to name her Russia's next figure skating queen right now because of that. Further, Liza and Adelina are still doing pretty well despite the growing pains, meaning by next season, they could be back to dominating the way they were in the 2011-2012 and 2010-2011 seasons, respectively. It's just too hard to tell.

I think Polina Korobeynikova is probably the most talented and watchable of all the Russian ladies at this point when she's "on", and she appears to be done growing. But she's also very inconsistent, so it's hard to tell if she will be able to get over that and show she can be a reliable, strong competitor between now and Sochi.

Leonova is good but if she continues to tank like she did at SA, I don't think she will be a lock for any teams, there are just too many other strong girls. She will need to prove herself like she has in the past and if she can't, I think the Fed won't have issues leaving her off the team.

It will be interesting and for now, I think the World and Olympic teams are wide open.
 

ForeverFish

Medalist
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Julia is fourteen, and most girls have hit puberty by then. She just doesn't seem to have experienced the stress and exhaustion that comes with growth spurts and weight gain, which can come out of nowhere and hit with the force of a semi. As long as she stays light and lean as a bird, though, she is Russia's current best. Compare her to the other big stars Liza, Adelina, and Alena, and you'll see why.

1. Liza T--One of the most mature teenagers out there (much more so than Julia), but as was already noted, she's been struggling with puberty and injuries. Did she seem slow and sluggish to anyone else at Skate Canada? I felt tired just watching her. Mishin was the one who said that she was going through a very stressful time for young girls, and was considering dropping out of SC up until two or three weeks before. Until she regains her 2011-2012 energy, she'll be finishing behind Lipnitskaia.

2. Adelina S--Massive jumps and usually has a good interpretation of the music, but consistency is her biggest issue by far. She yielded her lead to Gao at the Skate America free skate, and it wasn't much of a lead to begin with. She needs to work on more than just her jumps so that when nerves betray her, she has something to fall back on. She reminds me of Gracie Gold--huge potential, but hasn't found a way to channel that into artistry and fluidity.

3. Alena L--I think her seventh-place finish at SA speaks for itself, especially as she's been skating at the senior level for several years now. Any skater who can finish second at Worlds and then turn around and miss the podium at a GP will never be the federation's first choice when looking for reliability.

So the main issues for the Russians are consistency and puberty, neither of which Lipnitskaia has shown issues with just yet. I predict a growth spurt for her before Sochi rolls around, in which case one of the other teens (most likely Liza) will take her spot.
 

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Julia is fourteen, and most girls have hit puberty by then. She just doesn't seem to have experienced the stress and exhaustion that comes with growth spurts and weight gain, which can come out of nowhere and hit with the force of a semi. As long as she stays light and lean as a bird, though, she is Russia's current best. Compare her to the other big stars Liza, Adelina, and Alena, and you'll see why.

1. Liza T--One of the most mature teenagers out there (much more so than Julia), but as was already noted, she's been struggling with puberty and injuries. Did she seem slow and sluggish to anyone else at Skate Canada? I felt tired just watching her. Mishin was the one who said that she was going through a very stressful time for young girls, and was considering dropping out of SC up until two or three weeks before. Until she regains her 2011-2012 energy, she'll be finishing behind Lipnitskaia.

2. Adelina S--Massive jumps and usually has a good interpretation of the music, but consistency is her biggest issue by far. She yielded her lead to Gao at the Skate America free skate, and it wasn't much of a lead to begin with. She needs to work on more than just her jumps so that when nerves betray her, she has something to fall back on. She reminds me of Gracie Gold--huge potential, but hasn't found a way to channel that into artistry and fluidity.

3. Alena L--I think her seventh-place finish at SA speaks for itself, especially as she's been skating at the senior level for several years now. Any skater who can finish second at Worlds and then turn around and miss the podium at a GP will never be the federation's first choice when looking for reliability.

So the main issues for the Russians are consistency and puberty, neither of which Lipnitskaia has shown issues with just yet. I predict a growth spurt for her before Sochi rolls around, in which case one of the other teens (most likely Liza) will take her spot.

Each person is different regarding when puberty hits but I actually think it will be kind to Julia. Her body type actually reminds me a lot of Sasha Cohen's and as someone mentioned above I see a lot of similarities in their core strength too. Then again (though I wasn't one of them) a lot of people last year insisted puberty wouldn't bother Liza and that ended up being totally wrong. We'll have to see. At this time, I'd say she's Russia's best hope but that is contingent on my being right and puberty cooperating.

Liza and Adelina have different strengths. I'm not sure at this time how to rank them next to each other. If Adelina could be more consistent I'd give her the edge, but this is something else we'll have to wait and see about.

Alena is a wildcard I don't dismiss her like you, though. I think Russia knows what it has in a woman who has been competitive at worlds and can jump. She also has no mental hang ups and (SA notwithstanding) can pull out two error-free performances in a row with reasonable consistency. Now, if it turns out she has another outing like SA I will be reevaluating. However, at this time, I think the Sochi team is as likely to include her as not- it's really 50/50.
 

OS

Sedated by Modonium
Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Liza, Julia, Plushenko.

I have always like Liza and hope she can soon literally 'grew out' of her current problems. Liza has the better innate artistry and presentation, Julia the techniques and flexibility, but she has so much room still left to grow and develop in the next few years, however a key to her realizing the craft is with the right people (Morozov not the best choice of choreographer, at times it feels like he is almost abusing her insane flexibility without thought or tact). Personally I'd love to see what Tat can bring out of Liza and Julia.
 
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