2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Sam-Skwantch]

Being 12 Zagitova had not 3F and 3+3 combo. She practiced in Izhevsk.
Being 13 (practicing at Eteri group) she progressed. At September she had all 5 triples and 2A+3Lo combo, after that even better - 3Lz+3Lo, but that season (2015/2016) she was unstable, often mistaken. But in 2015/2016 season she was an interesting skater and I wrote "don't forget Zagitova, she may become promising". She became promising only for few months after I wrote it - won JGP Event. After that - won JGP Final and JrWorlds, next season won both GP Enents, GP Final, Olympics.

Kostornaia became promising from beginning of 2015/16 season. She was very good at early September (being 12). After that - injury, and she did not compete after October 2015 to beginning of season 2016/2017. At season 2016/2017 she was significantly worse (did not fully restore). At early September 2017 at Open Moscow Junior Championships she was so nice and strong (I've seen it by my eyes), and I wrote "Congratulate us all! New star born!" Officials of Federation also watched this competition and she got 6th JGP Event while she was not invited to test skate (did not deserve it by previous results). Won 6th JGP Event, 2nd at 7th, JGP Final, JrWorlds, 3rd an Senior Nationals.

Btw Trusona also was not Wunderkind as Radionova or Gubanova. I've first recognized her at January 2016 (she was 11 and half years old) - at warm-up of competition she several times landed very nice 3Lz both arms up. At season 2016/2017 she was very good but not the best - won only one Moscow competition while she was at most 2nd or 3rd (2 times including JrNats 4th). Her excellent results - from season 2017/2018.

You are always very informative. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us. I’m also very envious of the opportunities you seem to get to watch these skaters in person. I can only dream of being so fortunate.

Any info on Anastasiia Gubanova besides boot and injury issues?

 

[Orlov]

No, there are many sanctions against Russia. This year the ruble was weakened a lot .. But there are economic recovery in many European countries.

I do not know, I don't feel any sanctions.

It's not about sanctions. Big sport requires a big economy. And honestly, in my opinion, our success in figure skating does not fully correspond to the economy. Therefore, as is often the case with Russians, helps the strength of the spirit

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Welcome back Orlov

 

[Tulipstar]

Huh. I haven't been here for just a few days and now there are 700+ pages?? What happened?

 

[Hello from Brazil]

JGP happened

 

[BillNeal]

Huh. I haven't been here for just a few days and now there are 700+ pages?? What happened?

It was 15 posts per page and now there are 10 posts per page.

 

[MajaHled]

Huh. I haven't been here for just a few days and now there are 700+ pages?? What happened?

The format of GS changed, now it's just 10 posts per page

Eta: got beaten to the reply, I see

 

[Tolstoj]

Medvedeva is going to compete at the Autumn Classic.

First time a russian skater will compete at that event if i'm not wrong.

 

[Tally]

Pardon me if this has been brought up before, but again I’m seeing disgruntled people talking about Anna S’s lutz technique. I haven’t been on GSF long, but I gather there is a particular YouTuber that is very controversial that posts side-by-side comparisons of jump take-offs. Said unmentioned individual seems particularly obsessed with proper lutz takeoffs. I admit, I’ve agreed with everyone else at times that Zhenya’s lutzes were more flutzes than anything, but this latest video comparing Anna with Tome Kawabata is ludicrous, imo. I understand that ideally a skater takes off with a deep outside edge, but Anna’s lutz technique is nothing to raise issues over. As long as she’s taking off from an outside edge, it’s a legit lutz! Sure, she doesn’t look like she has that “broken ankle” takeoff that Yuna had, but it’s still pretty darned clear to me that she’s worthy of her positive GOE, as it IS based on air position, cleanliness, etc. other than take-off technique. I think hers is actually quite good compared to many others.

 

[Shayuki]

Nowhere in the rules does it even mandate "deep outside edge" nor is it some GOE bullet point. It's indeed a lack of knowledge regarding scoring.

It's a great shame that people feel the need to make such a big deal about something like -that-. When it's not even an issue. Especially for ladies, when many of them genetically have trouble with some edges being -overly- demanding doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The golden medium(Very shallow correct edges on Flip / Lutz) is far preferable to the alternative(deep correct edge on one, wrong edge on the other).

 

[hippomoomin]

I have the feeling that specific Youtuber is not a human, but a robot using AI to grab and compile images. I am not being sarcastic because I know computer code can do such things. It also takes a very unusual human being to insert those insulting images between actual skating footages and enjoy them, not to mention the time to find those images and editing them together.

Pardon me if this has been brought up before, but again I’m seeing disgruntled people talking about Anna S’s lutz technique. I haven’t been on GSF long, but I gather there is a particular YouTuber that is very controversial that posts side-by-side comparisons of jump take-offs. Said unmentioned individual seems particularly obsessed with proper lutz takeoffs. I admit, I’ve agreed with everyone else at times that Zhenya’s lutzes were more flutzes than anything, but this latest video comparing Anna with Tome Kawabata is ludicrous, imo. I understand that ideally a skater takes off with a deep outside edge, but Anna’s lutz technique is nothing to raise issues over. As long as she’s taking off from an outside edge, it’s a legit lutz! Sure, she doesn’t look like she has that “broken ankle” takeoff that Yuna had, but it’s still pretty darned clear to me that she’s worthy of her positive GOE, as it IS based on air position, cleanliness, etc. other than take-off technique. I think hers is actually quite good compared to many others.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I haven’t been on GSF long, but I gather there is a particular YouTuber that is very controversial that posts side-by-side comparisons of jump take-offs.....

....and start a lot of threads at GS

 

[Amei]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when Zagitova moved to Eteri at age 12 she didn’t even have all her triple yet? And three years later she’s the Olympic champion who came close to winning everything in her senior debut. And Kostornia was also a relative unknown before last year? And now she’s the second best junior in the world? She didn’t even have a fan fest thread until after last years test skates, less than a year ago.

I think because Russia has so much talent is why it’s entirely possible to overlook a late bloomer. Some 11-12 year old who doesn’t currently have all her triples at the moment but could move to Eteri (or another top coach) in a year and then become the next quad queen during her senior debut in an Olympic year. Now this same girl would likely be known to us now if she was from the US because there is so little talent that anyone with the slightest Olympic potential shows up on our radar.

I think Sabina Zagitova is a good example. If she didn’t have an older sister, would anyone know her? But Alina has said her sister has more talent than she did at her age. Are there more unknown Sabinas out there who would be senior eligible for the next Olympics?

And to those that say Alina has no chance of competing with her current arsenal, can we really know what she can do in 2-3 years? 3 years ago no one would have thought she’d be able to do 3Lz-3l and now she reportedly has the strength do 10 triples in a row (at least 5). Just because we don’t currently see her doing a quad or 3A doesn’t mean she won’t surprise us. Not necessarily likely but how can we really know for sure considering her exponential development. Who’s to say she’s done improving?

I'm curious to see how Zagitova does this season, she doesn't have the competitive advantage of backloading everything any longerand from what I've seen on this board I'm getting a bit of Sotnikova 2.0 vibes - we're getting the good line about continuing to compete but she also seems to be focusing on cashing in on the OGM doing tours/endorsements. (I don't mean to sound like I'm criticizing her...)

 

[Weathergal]

It was 15 posts per page and now there are 10 posts per page.

When did it change?

 

[Sugar Coated]

I'm curious to see how Zagitova does this season, she doesn't have the competitive advantage of backloading everything any longerand from what I've seen on this board I'm getting a bit of Sotnikova 2.0 vibes - we're getting the good line about continuing to compete but she also seems to be focusing on cashing in on the OGM doing tours/endorsements. (I don't mean to sound like I'm criticizing her...)

She very well could be Sotnikova 2.0 but I think it’ll be less due to touring or not training and more likely due to just being surpassed by the younger generation. I doubt Eteri will let her tour or focus excessively on endorsements, especially as her only senior. And although I disliked her new program I already noticed improvements in her flexibility and facial expressions. So she may still have room to grow and being OGM may give her a significant reputation boost. The real test will be next season when the Eteri juniors turn senior but I still think Zagitova has not yet realized her full potential and may surprise us.

 

[BillNeal]

When did it change?

Just changed this morning.

 

[moriel]

Just changed this morning.

yesterday it was like this already

But well, it just means we are closer to 1000 pages.

 

[moriel]

First time a russian skater will compete at that event if i'm not wrong.

In singles.
Back in 2014, there was a russian pair competing.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

yesterday it was like this already

But well, it just means we are closer to 1000 pages.

Increased page totals to match increased GOE scale this season

 

[j00mla]

Zagitova at 13 y.o. - broken arm, then broken leg. Olympic champion.
Sherbakova at 12 & 13 y.o. - broken arm, then broken leg. ????

But seriously, to try find out common tendencies and predict next champ after you stated in another threads that your favorites are unique, looks strange for me. Nothing personal.