Elena Radionova

[Meoima]

I'm not sure. If she can, or if she can do a 3Lo+3Lo, then maybe a 3Lo+3Lo+3T would make sense (or 3Lz+3Lo+3T)...

I think she can do 3lz3Lo, since 3lz is her strong jump.

 

[CutieP]

Latest interview from Lena before she flew for Japan! (I'm guessing they are there already.)
http://www.team-russia2014.ru/article/21652.html

I'm glad she had some time to recuperate, and she sounds super excited about performing in Japan! I think that means that she'll just go out and KILL OUT! :agree:

Well they are in Japan now: http://instagram.com/p/1c0TrWwYdO/ :agree:

In that picture Lena is still taller than Lena, not the other way around (you know, Lena being taller than Lena). It's of course always hard to say what kind of shoes their wearing

Then there's this http://instagram.com/p/1ck9bJQYQP/

 

[plushyfan]

Elena Radionova & Elena Ilinykh arrived in Japan https://instagram.com/p/1c2RtJqBn1/

 

[Alba]

Well they are in Japan now: http://instagram.com/p/1c0TrWwYdO/ :agree:

What a beautiful trio! I wish them all the best and a great skate!

 

[Batsuchan]

Lena I. posted several cute photos on her Instagram:
https://instagram.com/blackswanei/

But, as usual, she saved the best for her VK page!
Like so
https://pp.vk.me/c622026/v622026895/29dd2/r0comy6MYOY.jpg
And
https://pp.vk.me/c622026/v622026895/29dfe/qTz6lplM5fk.jpg

You can see the rest here if you scroll down a bit:
https://vk.com/shindlerlist

A Japanese fan posted this old clip from 2013 Jr Worlds (if anyone has seen the original, please post a link)!
https://vine.co/v/euPtzIrl19F
Lena says "Roshia, meccha tsuyoi!" in Japanese which means "Russia is super strong!" Soooo cute!!

 

[shiroKJ]

Lena I. posted several cute photos on her Instagram:
https://instagram.com/blackswanei/

But, as usual, she saved the best for her VK page!
Like so
https://pp.vk.me/c622026/v622026895/29dd2/r0comy6MYOY.jpg
And
https://pp.vk.me/c622026/v622026895/29dfe/qTz6lplM5fk.jpg

You can see the rest here if you scroll down a bit:
https://vk.com/shindlerlist

A Japanese fan posted this old clip from 2013 Jr Worlds (if anyone has seen the original, please post a link)!
https://vine.co/v/euPtzIrl19F
Lena says "Roshia, meccha tsuyoi!" in Japanese which means "Russia is super strong!" Soooo cute!!

Too adorable! Hope they enjoy their stay and have a great time at WTT!

 

[CutieP]

Too adorable! Hope they enjoy their stay and have a great time at WTT!

Agreed!:agree:

This is also very adorable http://instagram.com/p/1d-NFQshqg/

 

[Globetrotter]

I think she can do 3lz3Lo, since 3lz is her strong jump.

Hmm but I think tagging the 3R after any other jump is really tough. There has been only a handful of ladies who have been fully credited or likely to get full ratification (under 6.0) for this, almost as rare as a 3A lady. Off my head, I can only think of Tara Lipinski (3R-3R), Irina Slutskaya (3Lz-3R, 3S-3R), Miki Ando (3Lz-3R), Mao Asada (3F-3R), Adelina Sotnikova (3fLz-3R) and Natalia Ogoreltseva (3R-3R). A couple of other ladies have attempted 3R combos e.g. Caroline Zhang, Samantha Cesario, Ashley Wagner, but got called on <. Forget about Sarah Hughes - her jumps all looked < and those 3-3s would certainly have gotten << under CoP.

 

[Meoima]

Hmm but I think tagging the 3R after any other jump is really tough. There has been only a handful of ladies who have been fully credited or likely to get full ratification (under 6.0) for this, almost as rare as a 3A lady. Off my head, I can only think of Tara Lipinski (3R-3R), Irina Slutskaya (3Lz-3R, 3S-3R), Miki Ando (3Lz-3R), Mao Asada (3F-3R), Adelina Sotnikova (3fLz-3R) and Natalia Ogoreltseva (3R-3R). A couple of other ladies have attempted 3R combos e.g. Caroline Zhang, Samantha Cesario, Ashley Wagner, but got called on <. Forget about Sarah Hughes - her jumps all looked < and those 3-3s would certainly have gotten << under CoP.

Elena does not have UR problem at least until now. Maybe she can try... 3lz3lo and 3S3lo gain more points than 3lz3T IIRC.

 

[Batsuchan]

Elena does not have UR problem at least until now. Maybe she can try... 3lz3lo and 3S3lo gain more points than 3lz3T IIRC.

I agree with Globetrotter. As a Mao fan, I've seen her get a UR call on the 3F+3Lo combo or pop the second 3Lo countless times, so I'm not sure it's worth the extra base value.... (Of course, it's possible that Lena is a more reliable jumper than Mao was.)

The other thing to consider is how much GOE Lena could get on a 3Lz+3Lo combo. If she can get +1 GOE on her 3Lz+3T consistently, but gets +0 GOE on her 3Lz+3Lo, then essentially they are worth the same, even though the 3Lz+3Lo technically has a higher base value...

Now for some updates!
Pics from the opening ceremony, in case you haven't seen them.
https://cs7061.vk.me/c625616/v625616213/2985e/63LeMDrWjXM.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c625616/v625616213/29855/CD983fcnps4.jpg
Lena sure looks like Sergei's little sister, don't you think?

Looks like Lena & Liza got some quality bonding time!
With Maxim:
https://twitter.com/MaximkovtunJR/status/588363934047961088/photo/1

Having fun with the purikura machine:
https://instagram.com/p/1grPQ6zQRJ/

Though of course, Lena I. continues to spoil us with adorable pics. Seriously, she's my hero this week!
https://pp.vk.me/c622027/v622027895/2ead2/HxilZBMYK-I.jpg

 

[Batsuchan]

One of the TV Asahi announcers posted brief practice comments on their Twitter.
https://twitter.com/figureskate5ch/status/588268234442416129

About Lena, he said, "It's been awhile since I've watched her skate live, and I was surprised how much she's grown up!! While performing, she has expressive eyes, and she gives the impression of having energy flowing all the way to her fingertips, and she seems completely like a grown-up lady skater! When she smiled happily when she landed her 3Lz-3T cleanly, that was the only sign of child-like innocence."
Aww, sweet!

Well I'm not going to be watching live, so GOOD LUCK LENA!! I hope you have lots of fun dancing to your SP!

 

[Sandpiper]

Until the ISU wakes up and rewards -3Lo combinations properly--and starts awarding GOE independent of URs--I don't think 3Lz-3Lo will help Lena. She's already repeating lutz and loop. If she does 3Lz-3Lo as well, she's just using up all her triples, like so:

3Lz-3Lo
3Lz-3T
3F
3Lo-1Lo-3S
2A
2A
??? 2Lz?

It would've been a cool strategy in the 6.0 days: three different 3-3 combinations, maybe enough to challenge a 3A in the eyes of some judges. She'd just leave out the seventh jumping pass entirely, since a 2Lz is pointless and adds nothing. If she did this today, we'd have to see her end her program on a 2Lz. :hopelessness: A little too blatantly points-y for me, and not even worth enough points for the risk of < on the -3Lo.

Perhaps next year Lena could try doing both lutz and flip in the SP, and 2 lutzes and 2 flips in the LP (basically switching out the 3Lo-2T with a 3F-2T). But only if she's absolutely secure on the edge and preceding SP steps.

 

[Globetrotter]

Until the ISU wakes up and rewards -3Lo combinations properly--and starts awarding GOE independent of URs--I don't think 3Lz-3Lo will help Lena. She's already repeating lutz and loop. If she does 3Lz-3Lo as well, she's just using up all her triples, like so:

3Lz-3Lo
3Lz-3T
3F
3Lo-1Lo-3S
2A
2A
??? 2Lz?

It would've been a cool strategy in the 6.0 days: three different 3-3 combinations, maybe enough to challenge a 3A in the eyes of some judges. She'd just leave out the seventh jumping pass entirely, since a 2Lz is pointless and adds nothing. If she did this today, we'd have to see her end her program on a 2Lz. :hopelessness: A little too blatantly points-y for me, and not even worth enough points for the risk of < on the -3Lo.

Perhaps next year Lena could try doing both lutz and flip in the SP, and 2 lutzes and 2 flips in the LP (basically switching out the 3Lo-2T with a 3F-2T). But only if she's absolutely secure on the edge and preceding SP steps.

Err this layout is simply too tough and not really worth it for all the risks and difficulty. I think the issue is its too easy to get a UR call and -GOE for combinations ending in 3R. The rewards are simply too low. If there is say an extra 20% BV for tagging 3R combos, more people will try them but otherwise, there is simply too much risk and not enough sweets for this much more difficult 3-3 as compared to an easier 3T combo.

The 3F is Lena's least favourite jump and considering that the BV of a 3F is only 0.2 more than a 3R, I doubt it will be worth much for Lena to go for 3F instead of her preferred loop jump. Rather than a crazy 3A, Lena could do well to max out her PCS since she is a natural performer. She sure can work on the flow out of her jumps (which will boost TR) and her SS and adust her posture for better lines (boost IN).

 

[Sandpiper]

Err this layout is simply too tough and not really worth it for all the risks and difficulty. I think the issue is its too easy to get a UR call and -GOE for combinations ending in 3R. The rewards are simply too low. If there is say an extra 20% BV for tagging 3R combos, more people will try them but otherwise, there is simply too much risk and not enough sweets for this much more difficult 3-3 as compared to an easier 3T combo.

The 3F is Lena's least favourite jump and considering that the BV of a 3F is only 0.2 more than a 3R, I doubt it will be worth much for Lena to go for 3F instead of her preferred loop jump. Rather than a crazy 3A, Lena could do well to max out her PCS since she is a natural performer. She sure can work on the flow out of her jumps (which will boost TR) and her SS and adust her posture for better lines (boost IN).

That's my point--that layout (and hence, 3Lz-3Lo) is too ridiculous, complex, and thankless to consider.

3F probably isn't worth it either, you're right. But even that is a less risky strategy than 3Lz-3Lo.

Anyway, in other news, great skating from Lena at WTT SP! I'm a little confused/disappointed by the scores (she lands a swingy 3Lz-3T at Europeans and gets +2, which I can't agree with... but here she lands it nicely and can barely pull a +1. One judge even gave her +1 on the layback, and while I agree it wasn't her usual +3 standard, +1 is a little too harsh) Anyway, it's WTT, I shouldn't get so worked up. Just a little worried about the ongoing trend, after she didn't break 70 at Worlds either.

 

[witcher]

http://tinyurl.com/mh787uj

 

[Batsuchan]

Congrats to Lena for another clean SP!!

Anyway, in other news, great skating from Lena at WTT SP! I'm a little confused/disappointed by the scores (she lands a swingy 3Lz-3T at Europeans and gets +2, which I can't agree with... but here she lands it nicely and can barely pull a +1. One judge even gave her +1 on the layback, and while I agree it wasn't her usual +3 standard, +1 is a little too harsh) Anyway, it's WTT, I shouldn't get so worked up. Just a little worried about the ongoing trend, after she didn't break 70 at Worlds either.

I saw this discussion in the ladies SP thread too, but I think I'll reply here. I think the judging was pretty fair--the 3Lz+3T was landed cleanly, but she sort of lost the rotation at the end of the first spin, and she was very late getting the free leg out on the 2A. She also got a Level 3 on her step sequence instead of Level 4. And actually, her PCS did increase compared to Worlds.

HOWEVER, if she was still tied for Russia #1, I think her score would have been as high as her Euros score, or maybe higher because it's a fluff competition at the end of the season. She's no longer getting a boost from being co-frontrunner with Liza, in my opinion.

Personally, though, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed (as a greedy fan). I expected Lena to just go out with all guns blazing since she's in Japan (one of her favorite places to skate), and there was very little pressure. However, for me, the step sequence just didn't have that same pizzazz as it did at GPF 2014.

Looking at it more closely, I think she and her team actually cleaned it up A LOT. I think that perhaps a lot of people were criticizing the messiness of her program, so they made changes (a lot less upper body movement and arm movement), so the step sequence actually looked a lot more tidy today. HOWEVER, paradoxically, I think it's the kind of program that really works best as an enthusiastic hot mess--the crazy arm-flailing was necessary for it to work! If you try to put a polish on this trashy pop fun, then it takes the fun out of it...at least that's how I feel...

Anyhow, I hope Lena and Liza are in the K&C all day tomorrow and give us lots of cute moments! :agree:

Speaking of which, check out more of those purikura photos they took! (With Maxim and Sergei, and Team Canada!!!!)
https://twitter.com/Tyktamisheva/status/588453458191126529/photo/1

http://tinyurl.com/mh787uj

Here's the full clip--it's from when they were all in Japan for GPF 2013.
https://instagram.com/p/hlNfsatVgZ/

 

[yyyskate]

just watched Radio's SP. really good. she has grown up so much, this season, yet still managed a relatively great consistency. She will become a star in the future for sure.
absolutely agree with this
"It's been awhile since I've watched her skate live, and I was surprised how much she's grown up!! While performing, she has expressive eyes, and she gives the impression of having energy flowing all the way to her fingertips, and she seems completely like a grown-up lady skater! When she smiled happily when she landed her 3Lz-3T cleanly, that was the only sign of child-like innocence."

 

[Alba]

Just a little worried about the ongoing trend, after she didn't break 70 at Worlds either.

She was sick at Worlds and it was her worse skate during all season. Not breaking 70 was right and I don't see that as a trend. Just reflecting her not good skating, once. I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[Sandpiper]

HOWEVER, if she was still tied for Russia #1, I think her score would have been as high as her Euros score, or maybe higher because it's a fluff competition at the end of the season. She's no longer getting a boost from being co-frontrunner with Liza, in my opinion.

This is probably it. But we didn't see Gracie's scores plummet at 4CC, Worlds, or WTT after she lost Nationals to Ashley. She just skated really badly (and still received generous marks).

Personally, though, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed (as a greedy fan). I expected Lena to just go out with all guns blazing since she's in Japan (one of her favorite places to skate), and there was very little pressure. However, for me, the step sequence just didn't have that same pizzazz as it did at GPF 2014.

Looking at it more closely, I think she and her team actually cleaned it up A LOT. I think that perhaps a lot of people were criticizing the messiness of her program, so they made changes (a lot less upper body movement and arm movement), so the step sequence actually looked a lot more tidy today. HOWEVER, paradoxically, I think it's the kind of program that really works best as an enthusiastic hot mess--the crazy arm-flailing was necessary for it to work! If you try to put a polish on this trashy pop fun, then it takes the fun out of it...at least that's how I feel...

...now that you mention it, this makes a lot of sense. It's J-Lo, you should be a flailing, hyper, crazy mess (in the best sense of "mess")! I think her team would've been better served smoothing out the LP instead--that's actually a piece that requires more tidiness. So yes, I can see why it was scored lower than Europeans. I'm just confused about how it was scored--if her PCS dropped, I'd understand. However, her PCS rose and her TES dropped, which is strange because I found the jumps better at WTT than Euros (layback was slightly worse, but that's it).

She was sick at Worlds and it was her worse skate during all season. Not breaking 70 was right and I don't see that as a trend. Just reflecting her not good skating, once. I wouldn't worry about that.

I agree with the Worlds score. I don't agree with the WTT score being even lower than that. More importantly, anyone else skating a clean SP at Worlds (Ashley, Gracie, Liza, Satoko, anyone) would've likely gotten a SB, even if the performance was subdued.

Anyway, I'm clearly overthinking this, and more sane people should probably ignore me.

 

[Alba]

I agree with the Worlds score. I don't agree with the WTT score being even lower than that. More importantly, anyone else skating a clean SP at Worlds (Ashley, Gracie, Liza, Satoko, anyone) would've likely gotten a SB, even if the performance was subdued.

Anyway, I'm clearly overthinking this, and more sane people should probably ignore me.

I don't agree with the WTT scores either. I&Z got low scores for their SD here as well. The Tech Panel was totally out of their mind. Having said that, it's WTT, as you mentioned. Who cares?