2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[moriel]

Lena or Lenok from what I know but I‘m not Russian.

Lenok is more of an exotic one, and I would say it is specific to Radionova (it is uncommon, so either she likes it or her friends/family call her that).

 

[Fluture]

Lenok is more of an exotic one, and I would say it is specific to Radionova (it is uncommon, so either she likes it or her friends/family call her that).

Oh, okay, thank you, I didn‘t know that. I figured it was sort of like Alenka to Alena since she calls herself Lenok on instagram.

 

[moriel]

Oh, okay, thank you, I didn‘t know that. I figured it was sort of like Alenka to Alena since she calls herself Lenok on instagram.

The normal -ka diminutive would be Lenka.
(also dont worry, russian names are complex)

 

[macy]

Lenok is more of an exotic one, and I would say it is specific to Radionova (it is uncommon, so either she likes it or her friends/family call her that).

now that i think about it i believe it's part of her instagram handle.

 

[moriel]

now that i think about it i believe it's part of her instagram handle.

yep

(also, the creepy and insane part about russian is that you have many tools to easily form new words, including diminutives. This can be weird for native english speakers, for example.)

 

[ramed]

Asya is a version of Anastasia and she was born in April.

I've never ever heard Anastasia (pronounced Anah-Stah-See-Yah) nicknamed Asya. Asya (Ася) is a full female name which has no nicknames, Asya always remains just Asya. The nicknames for Anastasia are Nastya and Stasya.

Alina I think is too short to have one? Or is it Alya, and Alina just doesn't like that version?

Alya is perfectly fine variant for Alina, no idea whether Zagitova likes it or not.

How do we get "Shura" for Trusova?

Don't ask There's no logic in that. Shura is the nickname for both male name Alexander and female name Alexandra. From my limited (to a few dozens of both in total ) experience, males are usually more often called "Shura" than their female counterparts but I knew enough Alexandras who didn't mind to be called that way.

 

[siela]

There is actually a great variety with name diminutives. I am Elena and one of the diminutives I am being called is Lenchik.
It can be pretty much anything

 

[moriel]

Well, as for Shura, i feel that its like Alexandra -> Sasha -> Shura maybe
not sure =D

dang we need a "russian names" thread or something, before mods come and warn us all

 

[typeyournamehere]

This is the difference between being coached by Eteri and being coached by someone else.. 33.54 points difference in fact...

 

[neusw]

This is the difference between being coached by Eteri and being coached by someone else..

Yes, there is a huge difference when someone else has lower quality elements and shows up with half a program with limited choreography, and then does not perform it flawlessly. PCS this year will probably be even more heavily tied to execution, be it right or wrong. And of course there is Russian inflation across the board compared to other countries. In part it’s consistency and reputation, in part because one federation is much more successful at politicking than others. Regardless of how much we spectators complain, that is how PCS has always been judged and everyone has had long enough to be aware of the game now.

 

[Katie0906]

Alina got a total score of 238.43 fyi

 

[moriel]

Yes, there is a huge difference when someone else has lower quality elements and shows up with half a program with limited choreography, and then does not perform it flawlessly. PCS this year will probably be even more heavily tied to execution, be it right or wrong. And of course there is Russian inflation across the board compared to other countries. In part it’s consistency and reputation, in part because one federation is much more successful at politicking than others. Regardless of how much we spectators complain, that is how PCS has always been judged and everyone has had long enough to be aware of the game now.

I disagree about russian inflation.
For example, look at how russian juniors are scored. It is not like the non Eteri juniors are getting some sick scores.

Basically, the trick is that russia has a team that makes programs that can rack all the possible points, both in TES and PCs. And they consistently do it with their skaters. Yep, it is not always the most artistically pleasing, too many transitions, not enough jump setups and so on, but it is what scores high currently.

 

[neusw]

I disagree about russian inflation.
For example, look at how russian juniors are scored. It is not like the non Eteri juniors are getting some sick scores.

Basically, the trick is that russia has a team that makes programs that can rack all the possible points, both in TES and PCs. And they consistently do it with their skaters. Yep, it is not always the most artistically pleasing, too many transitions, not enough jump setups and so on, but it is what scores high currently.

What you say is true, Eteri’s team has perfected the art of throw everything at the judges strategy and clearly that’s what they like, but what I say about PCS also doesn’t really apply to juniors because their PCS is artificially capped at ~31/~62. I’m talking about seniors only, and unless your Carolina Kostner the best ways to elevate your PCS quickly beyond skating super intricate transition filled Eteri style programs is to be from a big federation (biggest of all Russia) and to skate clean repeatedly.
Which of course is not the purpose of PCS (as has been argued ad-nauseum). But everyone and their grandmas know that’s how it works.

 

[Fluture]

Happy for Alina. She was wonderful. Still has a lot of work to do - especially on interpretation and making some of the movements and transitions look smoother - but that was a fabulous first outing and she can be really proud. She really looked more confident and fierce which I was really glad to see. HUGE improvement since test skates. Let's hope for more outings like this one!

 

[maggieanne]

Wow, thanks to everyone who gave those in depth explanations. I always want to pronounce skater’s names correctly but it can be tough when you can’t read Russian.

 

[moriel]

What you say is true, Eteri’s team has perfected the art of throw everything at the judges strategy and clearly that’s what they like, but what I say about PCS also doesn’t really apply to juniors because their PCS is artificially capped at ~31/~62. I’m talking about seniors only, and unless your Carolina Kostner the best ways to elevate your PCS quickly beyond skating super intricate transition filled Eteri style programs is to be from a big federation (biggest of all Russia) and to skate clean repeatedly.
Which of course is not the purpose of PCS (as has been argued ad-nauseum). But everyone and their grandmas know that’s how it works.

For juniors, i mean the comparison between Eteri and non Eteri juniors.
You can clearly see that it is rather the Eteri style being rewarded than just inflation for all russians.

 

[atsumiri]

Alina was absolutely wonderful. Very impressed with that performance.
She was Carmen. Fabulous skate!
her interpretation changes with the music. really Beautiful.

 

[Vilord]

I was really impressed with Zagitovas free. She has improved so much in SS and IN from the beging of last season!

 

[colormyworld240]

Alina's skate was beautiful! Carmen suits her so much more than Christine, and most of all you can tell she feels it and loves it, bc she's been wanting to skate to it for so long, and that 3Lz-3Lo is still very much solid, and I think she'd lose it after growing so much. Would have loved the dress to be all red, but the black lace is probably expected and something she wanted because in a photo of her when she was much younger she had a black lace Carmen costume. Oh well, maybe I'll grow to love it, or not, like the black swan dress, but it's definitely much more flattering than her swan dress!

 

[Fluture]

Alina really looks grown up now. As much as I loved her tutus for being unique, they made her look younger. Now, especially in that Carmen dress, she looks mature and wonderful. I wanted either a black or a red dress and now I have both so I'm totally happy. Somebody should really give Olga flowers and a prize because all her dresses are stunning. :luv17:

And I have to admit... As much as I love Zhenya taking a new path in choreography, training environment and applaude her for every step she dared to take... I wish she would keep Olga. Very selfish and shallow but her dresses are literally ALWAYS impressing me so much! I can't help but miss them, even if her FS one is really beautiful as well. The only one that is on par with Olga (IMO) is the one that dresses the Korean girls.