2017-18 State of Russian Ladies skating | Page 309 | Golden Skate

2017-18 State of Russian Ladies skating

And TAT is there, wow... is there any direct flight Moscow-Saransk? i had the impression that is difficult to get to Saransk.
 
Shayuki said:
I still don't really get this stance of yours... Tarakanova's skating for example is quite a bit better, easily. I also have Kostornaia better by quite clear a margin.

In terms of basic skating, Tarakanova is quite unmatched in Russia.
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But I didn't say about skating, I was saying about stsq - step sequence. I'm talking not only about skating skills, but about overall impression. Gubanova's incredible gliding talent is on the same level as Kostner or Sotnikova, maybe even better. If we combine her skating skills with her perfect gliding - that's what I see, she's flying on the ice. Tarakanova with her amazing skating skills is not flying at all, she is fast but I can't get from her the same impression. Her blades are sharp, she has mastery of them, but she is too dynamic. I guess that's why many people don't like her, sometimes even judges. I mean, except sharpness of your blades you need to show something else. Her previous SP was much better in that case. Kostornaya's is like good and good in everything, but nothing of her qualities has amazing level.

I mean, let's split the gliding on the ice and the skating skills:

For me it's:

Gubanova
Gliding on the ice 5/5
Skating skills 3/5

Tarakanova
Gliding on the ice ~3/5
Skating skills 5/5

Kostornaya
Gliding on the ice ~4/5
Skating skills ~4/5

Something like this. And when I look at Gubanova's stsq - it's just a pure joy. Flawless and mature. Pure femininity and beauty. I didn't see any other girl who can fly on the ice how can she.
 
puremagic said:
But I didn't say about skating, I was saying about stsq - step sequence. I'm talking not only about skating skills, but about overall impression. Gubanova's incredible gliding talent is on the same level as Kostner or Sotnikova, maybe even better.
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Hmmm... I just don't get it even after you explain it. She doesn't have great effortless speed and doesn't even glide for long periods of time, she constantly switches feet and her speed is slow. I just don't see it at all. For example her SP step sequence here. Slow and constant foot-switching or assistance. Where is the gliding, even? She never even has any significant speed until the end of the step sequence where she does 4 crossovers. Without even going into the quality or variety of the actual footwork.

If you watch this SP step sequence by Tarakanova and alternate between this and Gubanova's and really don't see the huge difference, I just don't know. Tarakanova has much stronger gliding, deeper edges, effortlessness overall - her effortless acceleration almost defies physics. From 1:36 for instance, see what she actually does and does not have to do to gain that speed in such a short amount of time.
 
Shayuki said:
Hmmm... I just don't get it even after you explain it. She doesn't have great effortless speed and doesn't even glide for long periods of time, she constantly switches feet and her speed is slow. I just don't see it at all. For example her SP step sequence here. Slow and constant foot-switching or assistance. Where is the gliding, even? She never even has any significant speed until the end of the step sequence where she does 4 crossovers. Without even going into the quality or variety of the actual footwork.

If you watch this SP step sequence by Tarakanova and alternate between this and Gubanova's and really don't see the huge difference, I just don't know. Tarakanova has much stronger gliding, deeper edges, effortlessness overall - her effortless acceleration almost defies physics. From 1:36 for instance, see what she actually does and does not have to do to gain that speed in such a short amount of time.
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Well, it's quiet incorrect to compare Gubanova's current crap short program with Tarakanova's. Also, as I said, in her current puberty period Gubanova is more slow than in the last year. More less fair compare will be with this.

I'm not saying about gaining speed and deep edging, there's obvious Tarakanova is ahead. Gubanova's skating is maturity, knowing what she's doing and she can handle with her blades, although they're not so sharp. Tarakanova seems like an incredible talent with very sharp blades, but the way she use it in her programs, and her programs overall that's not the same. Tarakanova with insane amount of transitions can give me a "wow" effect, but nothing more. Gubanova's skating is touching a soul.
 
Shayuki said:
Hmmm... I just don't get it even after you explain it. She doesn't have great effortless speed and doesn't even glide for long periods of time, she constantly switches feet and her speed is slow. I just don't see it at all. For example her SP step sequence here. Slow and constant foot-switching or assistance. Where is the gliding, even? She never even has any significant speed until the end of the step sequence where she does 4 crossovers. Without even going into the quality or variety of the actual footwork.

If you watch this SP step sequence by Tarakanova and alternate between this and Gubanova's and really don't see the huge difference, I just don't know. Tarakanova has much stronger gliding, deeper edges, effortlessness overall - her effortless acceleration almost defies physics. From 1:36 for instance, see what she actually does and does not have to do to gain that speed in such a short amount of time.
Click to expand...

I believe you have some misconception about skating skills. Staking skills is not all about one-footed skating and speed.

In fact, one-footed skating is only 1/6 of the criteria of "skating skills". Therefore your argument of Gubanova having poor skating skills because she constantly changes feet does not stand. I would like to bring your attention to "steps", as in "step sequence". Many steps, be it Mohwak, Choctaw, Chasse, Toesteps, Crossroll... all involve switching feet. The abundance of steps in fact demonstrated Gubanova's good control of blade with multi-directional skating. Tarakanova has a different approach with her StSq and she prefers turns to steps. That's okay, just different styles but none is inferior to another. That's 2/6 bullet points checked in SS.

I see you have mentioned crossovers. I would also like to bring your attention to the total number of crossovers used by these two skaters in their SP. The number of crossovers used in Tarakanova's SP is double of that of Gubanova's. I believe this explains Gubanova's quality of glide and ability to accelerate and maintain speed despite intricate footwork, or how "effortless", as you have mentioned. Another 2/6 bullet points checked in SS.

As you have mentioned, Tarakanova appears much faster on ice compared to Gubanova. However, skating skills is not just about fast. Skating with a less impressive speed with deep edges while maintaining good flow is like trying to ride a bicycle slowly without wobbling. Being able to skate both fast and slow demonstrates great balance and control of blade. Therefore, in the criteria that defines "skating skills", "varied speed" is mentioned, but "fast skating" is not.

As for edges, I think both girls have deep edges with their turns and transitions.

I hope this explanation would allow you to have a more throughout concept of what is involved in the criteria in skating skills, and therefore appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of a skater's SS through a wholistic point of view.
 
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