Oh no, Lena! It‘s just so frustrating at this point. I feel like even though she‘s been struggling since last year, she still had potential. But unfortunately Buyanova hasn‘t been able to help her so far.
For now, I‘m hoping for Sima to get the spot at SA, she’d really deserve it, she‘s working so hard!!
And because I haven‘t done this yet: Congrats to our five ladies in the JGPF and Anna Tarusina with a honorable mention as the first alternate who skated really well in both of her assignments! A few thoughts on each of them:
Sasha: Killer. :shocked: While I still prefer artistry to quads, I can‘t deny she‘s throwing them down like crazy. And she‘s really developing in other aspects, too. Her spins are SO MUCH BETTER than last year, it‘s not even funny. She‘s very young, so she‘ll mature a bit in her artistry but so far she‘s interpreting the programs she‘s given really well. They suit her. Might not be my favourite ones but they‘re certainly good, exciting programs even and she‘s executing them truly brilliantly. Congrats!
I hope she‘s feeling better now or at least gets some time to rest. She really deserves it and more than that, her body needs it desperately! I know this event was important and Tiny Boss wouldn‘t have missed it for anything but I still can‘t help but worry. Skating is a strain on the body (especially if you‘re doing quads!!) and she‘s been sick already. That‘s not healthy at all and could lead to some serious problems. I know skaters - any athletes - have done that before skating with illness and injury and stuff but she‘s so young and I just want her to be healthy. Get in bed, drink tea, sleep a lot and dream about quads, Sasha! You‘ve earned a rest!
Alena Kostornaya: She‘s an angel. Even with that last a bit unfortunate competition - not feeling well and breaking her finger - she‘s just such a joy to watch. Doesn’t matter whether there‘s a 3A or not, her jumps are just high, beautiful and so well executed. Good spins, incredibly skating skills, mature interpretation. Is there anything she can‘t do? She‘s definitely won my heart over. Favourite junior this season.
But: Same as for Sasha. Take care of your finger. I know a broken finger won‘t stop a Alena Kostornaya from training but be careful. We want all girls healthy and fit at JGPF!
Anna Shcherbakova: Another favourite. While Alena has won my heart over, in no way could I deny her brilliance. Quad Lutz. And a stunning musicality and interpretation, wonderful spins ... how could you top that? She needs to be a bit more consistent but I‘m sure she‘ll manage. Considering that she‘s been off ice most of last season, it‘s already insane what she‘s pulling off.
Nastya: So powerful. I love her genuine emotions. I love that she‘s wild in her skating. Her jumps sometimes seem a bit unfinished as does her skating but for me that‘s the most intriguing thing about her. She stands out because she‘s passionate and free. If she really intends to add a quad by the end of the season, it will be even more interesting to watch her.
Alena Kanysheva: She‘s a princess on ice. Such a distinctive style. Elegant, calm yet really powerful. She handled the pressure really well at her last JGP, knowing her spot at the final was at stake. While it wasn‘t as brilliant as her FS in Linz, she didn‘t fall and only had a slight wobble on a spin and a step-out. Her skating skills are wonderful. Deserved spot for the final!!
Honorable mention: Anna Tarusina. While I personally don‘t enjoy her skating too much, I have to appreciate her consistency and how much she wants it. She‘s so determined and won two silvers! It was so close and honestly, even if you aren‘t her fan, it‘s sad to see because she just skated really well in both events and still can‘t go to the final... I like her commitment. She loves what she does and that‘s great. Hopefully she‘ll get that spot in the final next year!
