2018 Russian Nationals Ladies FS

[LiamForeman]

I am so confused with Russian diminutives, Masha, Dasha, Pasha, Zhenia....

THANK YOU! It's been driving me CRAZY! Who is Nastia? Stava? Sasha? Can we PLEASE, please please PRETTY PLEASE if we say a diminutive at LEAST give the last name?!?!?! Too much to ask??? Russia is stacked! Even the last names run together for me. I'm getting weary of Alina, Alena, Elena, Alana without the last names!

 

[Elucidus]

Actually, sometimes even russians themselves get confused as well I mean there are ladies with the same names, aren't they?

P.S. about Konstantinova being so loved by russian judges/public
I think it's related to mentality thing. You see, russian people would like much more Tuktamysheva, Radionova, Leonova or Konstantinova style of scating as something much more down to earth, folk dance-like, oriented to flirting with public rather than something ephemeral and academic like Kostornaia. They would consider it as boring and sleep-inducing. It's the same reason that many russians sincerely think that Sotnikova won Oly 2014 fairly - it's not even about patriotism but because Yuna Kim was boring for them.
I noticed this difference in tastes very clearly because I frequent both western and eastern communities. Actually I am surprised that Kostornaia even got the podium considering all I said above.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

THANK YOU! It's been driving me CRAZY! Who is Nastia? Stava? Sasha? Can we PLEASE, please please PRETTY PLEASE if we say a diminutive at LEAST give the last name?!?!?! Too much to ask??? Russia is stacked! Even the last names run together for me. I'm getting weary of Alina, Alena, Elena, Alana without the last names!

Don’t forget Alyona

 

[hanca]

THANK YOU! It's been driving me CRAZY! Who is Nastia? Stava? Sasha? Can we PLEASE, please please PRETTY PLEASE if we say a diminutive at LEAST give the last name?!?!?! Too much to ask??? Russia is stacked! Even the last names run together for me. I'm getting weary of Alina, Alena, Elena, Alana without the last names!

For me it is not using the diminutives that’s a problem. Using first names (even without diminutives) is. There are at least three Anna (Pogorilaya, Scherbakova, Tarusina), several Anastasia (Gubanova, Guliakova, Gratcheva), two Alena (Kostornaya and Leonova) and that’s hoping that people won’t misspell it and won’t mean Elena or Alina, two Sofia (Samodurova and Istomina), several Elizaveta ..... interesting how often people write Anna and hope that you can read their thoughts and know which one they mean.

 

[LiamForeman]

Is Polina injured again or something? She looked sluggish to me and never really accelerated into her elements. Pretty disappointing performance actually and I’m not talking just the mistakes.

I was thinking the same thing. Just a cold/flu? Very little was effortless. Her NancySpiral into her 3loop in the SP wasn't.... She seemed off.

 

[Manitou]

THANK YOU! It's been driving me CRAZY! Who is Nastia? Stava? Sasha? Can we PLEASE, please please PRETTY PLEASE if we say a diminutive at LEAST give the last name?!?!?! Too much to ask??? Russia is stacked! Even the last names run together for me. I'm getting weary of Alina, Alena, Elena, Alana without the last names!

Kaetlyn, Kathryn, Kaitlyn, Kathleen, ... are you kidding me? Those names run together for me. Can you guys stop calling them Kaetlyn or Kaitlyn, but every time, I say EVERY POSSIBLE MENTION, say it fully: Kaetlyn Osmond and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Weaver?

 

[cell]

Actually, sometimes even russians themselves get confused as well I mean there are ladies with the same names, aren't they?

P.S. about Konstantinova being so loved by russian judges/public
I think it's related to mentality thing. You see, russian people would like much more Tuktamysheva, Radionova, Leonova or Konstantinova style of scating as something much more down to earth, folk dance-like, oriented to flirting with public rather than something ephemeral and academic like Kostornaia. They would consider it as boring and sleep-inducing. It's the same reason that many russians sincerely think that Sotnikova won Oly 2014 fairly - it's not even about patriotism but because Yuna Kim was boring for them.
I noticed this difference in tastes very clearly because I frequent both western and eastern communities. Actually I am surprised that Kostornaia even got the podium considering all I said above.

I don't think the above is necessarily true - re Russians preferring Tukramysheva's style of skating over Kostornaya. It depends on *who* you are asking.

I find Tuktamysheva and especially Leonova 's skating/programs to be super tacky most of the time. I'd like to think of skating as art when it's at its best (i.e. Papadakis and Cizeron's Moonlight Sonata or some of Daisuke Takahashi's performances) ...I realize there is a diversity of styles, but programs like Leonova's make me embarrassed. Maybe I sound like a snob and should just let the girl have her perky Bollywood fun out there

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

FYI: When I speak of Tarakanova I call her Nas2ya and Gubanova is Nastya

Real Talk: Us fans who follow the sport and especially for the purpose of this thread follow Russian ladies skating are so spoiled. These girls absolutely work so hard and the stuff we nitpick at and criticize really pales in comparison to the quality they bring. Even those in the first groups are launching beautiful jumps and spins. It’s an amazing thing going on here and we’re the better for it. Heck...as a huge Nastya fan I should have the urge and instincts to get upset about Stasya scoring so off the chart today but I just can’t. I was very impressed and she skated so well. They both did! Everyone did!!

To another year of fun and excitement! **Cheers**

 

[starla16]

Actually, sometimes even russians themselves get confused as well I mean there are ladies with the same names, aren't they?

P.S. about Konstantinova being so loved by russian judges/public
I think it's related to mentality thing. You see, russian people would like much more Tuktamysheva, Radionova, Leonova or Konstantinova style of scating as something much more down to earth, folk dance-like, oriented to flirting with public rather than something ephemeral and academic like Kostornaia. They would consider it as boring and sleep-inducing. It's the same reason that many russians sincerely think that Sotnikova won Oly 2014 fairly - it's not even about patriotism but because Yuna Kim was boring for them.
I noticed this difference in tastes very clearly because I frequent both western and eastern communities. Actually I am surprised that Kostornaia even got the podium considering all I said above.

then how come Kostornaia had many applause than Konstantinova and even Zagi got loud cheers and ovation.

 

[koatcue]

Some secondary observation:

I was surprised that Russian announcer pronounced Sotskova as Sotskova but Kostornaya as Kastarnaya, I am seriously confounded. Also "Palina Tsurskaya". I know that some that Cyryllic letters don't quite convey the exact sound and that it depends on the accent of the syllable too but it's damn confusing for me.

The moscovites tend to pronounce more "a"

 

[madison]

Watching the competition, Polina was robbed. Both she and Konstantinova popped a jump, but still she is the better skater of these 2. I would have had her on 4.

 

[kevinVchicago]

Urgent inquiry:
Who is Radionova's super-gorgeous third coach? [emoji847]

 

[Shayuki]

then how come Kostornaia had many applause than Konstantinova and even Zagi got loud cheers and ovation.

I guess that is the case for the figure skating fed? The audience and online comments dont really match. And heck, it is possible to actually have a flirty program without seeming like you are skating deaf.

 

[zytolda]

My mom gives your mom a high five! She LOVES Alina, too.

My mom too.☺ she said that alina had something special that requiers your full attention
and she loved her arms work

 

[madison]

Urgent inquiry:
Who is Radionova's super-gorgeous third coach? [emoji847]

You mean the man? He's Alexander Uspenski. I think he works with her on skating skills.

 

[Anni234]

For me it is not using the diminutives that’s a problem. Using first names (even without diminutives) is. There are at least three Anna (Pogorilaya, Scherbakova, Tarusina), several Anastasia (Gubanova, Guliakova, Gratcheva), two Alena (Kostornaya and Leonova) and that’s hoping that people won’t misspell it and won’t mean Elena or Alina, two Sofia (Samodurova and Istomina), several Elizaveta ..... interesting how often people write Anna and hope that you can read their thoughts and know which one they mean.

Hey, if there is a name mentioned, I'm already happy. Sometimes I go back PAGES to see, who is the "he/she" everyone is talking about.

 

[kevinVchicago]

You mean the man? He's Alexander Uspenski. I think he works with her on skating skills.

The ladies who coach her are lovely as well, but yes the man. Thanks!

 

[kevinVchicago]

What a weird competition.
Why did Konstantinova score so high (I'm talking relative to the inflation)??? What did I miss there? I watched her performance twice. It was good, but...

And Sotskova's score... for the worst performance she ever put on ice... I love Masha, glad she made the team... But that score LOL

 

[[email protected]]

P.S. about Konstantinova being so loved by russian judges/public
I think it's related to mentality thing. You see, russian people would like much more Tuktamysheva, Radionova, Leonova or Konstantinova style of scating as something much more down to earth, folk dance-like, oriented to flirting with public rather than something ephemeral and academic like Kostornaia. They would consider it as boring and sleep-inducing. It's the same reason that many russians sincerely think that Sotnikova won Oly 2014 fairly - it's not even about patriotism but because Yuna Kim was boring for them.

I don't think generalization works. Being Russian I do sincerely think that Sotnikova won fairly in Sochi because her program had 7 triples, those triples were big (people are not tired to praize Gabby's 3T-3T - guys, look at Sotnikova's) and she is a superior spinner to Yuna. But I absolutely admire Medvedeva and Kostornaya. I think, they are the best skaters in the world right now followed by Zagitova, not Tuktamysheva, Konstantinova or Radionova.

 

[Shayuki]

For me it is not using the diminutives that’s a problem. Using first names (even without diminutives) is. There are at least three Anna (Pogorilaya, Scherbakova, Tarusina), several Anastasia (Gubanova, Guliakova, Gratcheva), two Alena (Kostornaya and Leonova) and that’s hoping that people won’t misspell it and won’t mean Elena or Alina, two Sofia (Samodurova and Istomina), several Elizaveta ..... interesting how often people write Anna and hope that you can read their thoughts and know which one they mean.

Hmm yes, sorry. To the ones talking I guess it seems obvious by the context but that is a good point especially in consideration of those not reading the forums all the time. Well I at least was talking about Shcherbakova, Tarusina is not quite at that level and for Pogorilaya just being able to respectably continue her career would be considered a win.