2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[tars]

If you had to pick one skater (not Evgenia or Alina ) that you're most excited for next season, who would it be??

I watch Alina's skates 10 times per day, I like the way she speaks to media, interact with fans, I adore her sincerity and openess, I think she's great ambassador of the sport, she's totally adorable young lady.
I just can't fully invest in her, because I'm terrified her puberty monster will devour her fans' hearts sooner rather than later. I truly want to be wrong here.

 

[hanca]

:think: Yes, it's possible that she'll achieve something, just like it's similarly possible for approximately 200 ladies in her age group to accomplish something. My point is that if she wasn't Alina's sister, she wouldn't even get talked about. In her age group, she placed 19th in the Ural/Volga region championship, which isn't a strong region at all and she additionally doesn't display anything special. I am not even exaggerating when I say that a random Moscow local tends to have 20 stronger ladies in her age group, at least. That doesn't mean it's a guarantee that she'll never become anything, but I'd say it's approximately as likely that she'll become something as it is for around 200 other ladies, yet 199 of those aren't talked about at all while she is, which I don't think is fair.

There's also the point of straight up insulting Alina like saying a mediocre skater like her would be better than Alina in components which, again, as a statement has no basis in reality.

If she wasn’t Alina’s sister she wouldn’t get talked about...well, I know quite a few skaters who are talked about only because either they are related to someone, or their coach is famous... especially Tutberidze’s girls get talked about even when they are still not having the results. Wasn’t there Novakhova a few years ago, which was also talked about a lot? She somehow disappeared... So what that people are talking about Alina’s sister? Yes, her chances are no bigger than the chances of other girls, but at this stage it is likely that we may not even know who will step up and get to the Olympics. Four years ago lots of people were upset that Gubanova and Nugumanova are too young for this Olympics, and they were forecasting that it will be between Tsurskaya, Sotskova, Proklova, Medvedeva and Sakhanovich. Well, Tsurskaya and Sakhanovich got left behind, Proklova had injury, Sotskova and Medvedeva got to Olympics but not to the top of the podium, and even if Gubanova and Nugumanova were age eligible, they wouldn’t be sent. Four years is awfully long time in ladies to worry whether younger Zagitova will improve or not.

 

[russianfan]

If you had to pick one skater (not Evgenia or Alina ) that you're most excited for next season, who would it be??

Trusova of course. The one with the biggest "wow effect". You never know what to expect from her. She is insane in a good way.

 

[Dmitryfromsiberia]

Trusova of course. The one with the biggest "wow effect". You never know what to expect from her. She is insane in a good way.

I'm waiting for her 4S, 4T, 4Lz in FS in the new season, maybe one of them in the cascade.

 

[Kirpich]

I'm waiting for her 4S, 4T, 4Lz in FS in the new season, maybe one of them in the cascade.

I doubt we'll see 4lz next season from her, she just began doing it, 4lz must be unstable for now

 

[madison]

If you had to pick one skater (not Evgenia or Alina ) that you're most excited for next season, who would it be??

Kostornaya.....
I am curious about her new programs and the 3A, of course.

 

[madison]

https://shorturl.at/ghins


I investigated Sabina a bit - she's pretty, she's slim, but she's different kind of slim than Alina and I don't know if she can jump as well, plus I got the vibe from her coach's interview she's been not the most zealous student, which might be a problem in current competition amongst Russian ladies. I fully agree with hanca though, that her talent can explode, just like the talents of other novice girls. Saying that, I doubt the wonder of year 2004 will happen anytime soon - I don't even think my fave Akatieva will be that strong at 13/14.

Also, regarding Adelina - every time I look at her photos, I'm under impression, that if she really wanted she could get back to shape in like 3 months or so. Even with few additional kilos you can tell she's innate athlete and we all know height of her jumps were insane! If not that Sochi gold, she would totally remind Kovtun - unaccomplished jumping phenom.

Kovtun- unaccomplished jumping phenom!! lol
you make me laugh

 

[madison]

I watch Alina's skates 10 times per day, I like the way she speaks to media, interact with fans, I adore her sincerity and openess, I think she's great ambassador of the sport, she's totally adorable young lady.
I just can't fully invest in her, because I'm terrified her puberty monster will devour her fans' hearts sooner rather than later. I truly want to be wrong here.

I would rather worry about her innate emotional instability than the puberty monster, related somehow because it can become even worse during puberty, but not exclusively.

 

[Shayuki]

If you had to pick one skater (not Evgenia or Alina ) that you're most excited for next season, who would it be??

The easiest Anna Shcherbakova of my life.

Saying that, I doubt the wonder of year 2004 will happen anytime soon - I don't even think my fave Akatieva will be that strong at 13/14.

You really think so? :think:
I wonder why. I truly believe she's going to be incredible, perhaps even revolutionary.

If she wasn’t Alina’s sister she wouldn’t get talked about...well, I know quite a few skaters who are talked about only because either they are related to someone, or their coach is famous... especially Tutberidze’s girls get talked about even when they are still not having the results.

Geez, having a "famous"(Successful) coach isn't a bad reason to talk about someone. It's one of the most valid reasons.

 

[yoloaxel]

I would rather worry about her innate emotional instability than the puberty monster, related somehow because it can become even worse during puberty, but not exclusively.

I don't think Alina is that unstable tbh. Yes she's had a meltdown at WC and had issues with her SP but in the end, she delivered when it really mattered. She even kept her composure after missing her -3Lo combo in the FS at the Olympics and placed it on her second lutz without problems! I wouldn't be too pessimistic for her! She doesn't have a mind of steel like Medvedeva but she also isn't unstable like, say, Pogorilaya.

 

[madison]

I don't think Alina is that unstable tbh. Yes she's had a meltdown at WC and had issues with her SP but in the end, she delivered when it really mattered. She even kept her composure after missing her -3Lo combo in the FS at the Olympics and placed it on her second lutz without problems! I wouldn't be too pessimistic for her! She doesn't have a mind of steel like Medvedeva but she also isn't unstable like, say, Pogorilaya.

She is unstable, trust me... I followed her closely from the beginning of the last season and I know what I talk about.
Simply the fact she didn't manage to put 3lo as it was planned, although it wasn't a tech issue as the 3 lz looked ok, is a proof of her uncertainty.
But I agree with the last sentence.

 

[Fluture]

If I had to choose, it‘d be either between Alena Kostornaya and Anna Sherbakova. The first is obvious, she‘s my favoutire junior skater by far. And Anna‘s got huge potential, I like her artistry and we haven‘t seen her that much due to injury. I‘m excited to see what she‘s got.

On the topic of Alina: I agree that she isn‘t like Medvedeva, who doesn‘t seem to really be fazed by anything at all. She‘s more sensitive, we all know that. But she delivered when it was necessary. She showed her strength when she kept her cool at the Olympics after missing the first Loop after the Lz and then simply adding it later. How many skaters would have been able to do that? How many would have lost faith and crumbled? Worlds was a terrible experience, yes, but she‘s going to learn from it. She was tired and overexposed to the public, she needed rest terribly and was even ill a week after the OG yet everything depended on her due to Konstantinova and Sotskova not being a safe bet at all to get those 3 spots. She‘s only 16. Let her breathe. Puberty might cause problems for her, we never know what‘s going to happen. But I wouldn‘t call her emotionally unstable. She‘s a normal girl who‘s achieved a lot more than any average girl in her age group ever does!

But what I agree on is that Eteri should be a bit careful. She‘s going to be very... ambitious to beat Medvedeva and she‘s going to push Alina. Hard. But I hope she won‘t forget what happened at Worlds and watch out so that Alina doesn‘t crumble under the pressure.

 

[yoloaxel]

She is unstable, trust me... I followed her closely from the beginning of the last season and I know what I talk about.
Simply the fact she didn't manage to put 3lo as it was planned, although it wasn't a tech issue as the 3 lz looked ok, is a proof of her uncertainty.
But I agree with the last sentence.

I'm not convinced tbh. This being her first senior season, I think it was very impressive. Yes she's had some misses on the SP but she always managed to recover well. The only thing that would make me agree with you is WC, but I honestly think she was simply exhausted. I don't think there's proof of her being an unstable skater

 

[dante]

Kostornaya.....
I am curious about her new programs and the 3A, of course.

- How's your trixel?
- Great, just great
- So, will you add it in the new season's programs?
- Most likely
- If it's so great, why not surely?
- To maintain the intrigue

https://ask.fm/kostorka323/threads/148069079075

 

[madison]

- How's your trixel?
- Great, just great
- So, will you add it in the new season's programs?
- Most likely
- If it's so great, why not surely?
- To maintain the intrigue

https://ask.fm/kostorka323/threads/148069079075

Did she actually say that?
Wow, I really like this girl... she's something ))

 

[Fluture]

- How's your trixel?
- Great, just great
- So, will you add it in the new season's programs?
- Most likely
- If it's so great, why not surely?
- To maintain the intrigue

https://ask.fm/kostorka323/threads/148069079075

Alena being Alena again

 

[madison]

I'm not convinced tbh. This being her first senior season, I think it was very impressive. Yes she's had some misses on the SP but she always managed to recover well. The only thing that would make me agree with you is WC, but I honestly think she was simply exhausted. I don't think there's proof of her being an unstable skater

Usually, the first seasons are the easiest for the Russian ladies.
Let's see what happens next season and the season after that!

 

[dante]

Did she actually say that?
Wow, I really like this girl... she's something ))

Yeah, she said "great" the way it sounded sarcastic, though apparently it wasn't. A little green troll.

 

[zounger]

Yeah, she said it the way it sounded sarcastic, though apparently it wasn't.

It would be funny if she replied "to keep the artistic balance"

 

[tars]

Kovtun- unaccomplished jumping phenom!! lol
you make me laugh

His vertical is absolutely sensational, dude flies in the sky.
Whether he rotates and lands on two feet or not is a different story.

I would rather worry about her innate emotional instability than the puberty monster, related somehow because it can become even worse during puberty, but not exclusively.

I actually think Alina is very stable emotionally, cool even. Well-behaved, shy and polite outside and a little inside.

You really think so? :think:
I wonder why. I truly believe she's going to be incredible, perhaps even revolutionary.

Just a feeling, watched a snippet of their jazz dance classes and her control and grace in movement is still far from the level of their instructress.
Besides, we are comparing to maybe the best age group in figure skating history, let's give her time.