2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[IceBallerina]

Evgenia need to watch her spins she git 2 V and level 3 in 1 too. Without that she could get silver/even win. Also she got < on her 3Lo which is weird. 3Lo used to be one her best jumps with 3S... i think she need to try that 2A-3Lo since she kind of struggle with solo 3Lo now?

Little things like spins can mean the difference between the color of your medal… they need to work on them. Also she got her second edge call in her entire senior career today. They should have only done one lutz.

She has back pain, and loops put a lot of pressure on the back. That’s why she’s not doing a layback spin. I think she needs to lay off the loop combos and let her back heal.

 

[lavoix]

The judging here was ridiculous, this was probably one of the worst women's competition I've watched.

When is Med's next GP and who are her competitors there? Had she at least chucked a double flip double toe loop in the SP she would have won this competition.

I thought Med looked more determined and was quite shocked at her TES and how harsh the judges were. I still don't understand how they went from level 4 spins to downgrading to level 3. The loop also looked fine to me.

The second lutz needs to go, keep it for nationals or smaller competitions, but not GP competitions.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

The judging here was ridiculous, this was probably one of the worst women's competition I've watched.

When is Med's next GP and who are her competitors there? Had she at least chucked a double flip double toe loop in the SP she would have won this competition.

I thought Med looked more determined and was quite shocked at her TES and how harsh the judges were. I still don't understand how they went from level 4 spins to downgrading to level 3. The loop also looked fine to me.

The second lutz needs to go, keep it for nationals or smaller competitions, but not GP competitions.

In France in 4 weeks. Rika Kihira, Bradie Tennel and Mai Mihara are the biggest contenders. But tbh Rika is the only real rival there if Evgenia skates clean. Rika has 3A but is highly inconsistent.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I still don't understand how they went from level 4 spins to downgrading to level 3.

Word on the street is she missed getting three full revolutions in each position on those two elements or had issues in the sit position. I still haven’t seen her performance yet but that’s the word I’m reading amongst posters here.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Serafima posted a pic of Zhenya with her crown on and Liza as a way of congratulating both. Gotta love the love :

 

[alpaca]

It's good that France is a month away... gives her and team a lot of time to fix up a bunch of things. Without the SP mistake, she would've pretty easily won this competition but again, figure skating is an unpredictable sport. This GP (at least for ladies) is probably the toughest GP judging I've seen in a very long time, even tougher than ACI, which is known to be generally much tougher than most. I think with total combined mistakes, she could've scored 20+ more points which still gives me much hope for the future!

 

[Seren]

I loved both Liza and Med tonight. Liza proved to everyone what a queen she is, she didn’t give up even when everyone expected her to quit. And Med proved what a champion she is skating fierce after what was probably the worst short program of her career. Lots of love to these Russian ladies!

I also kind of loved Daria’s 80’s throwback sounding long program.

 

[lavoix]

In France in 4 weeks. Rika Kihira, Bradie Tennel and Mai Mihara are the biggest contenders. But tbh Rika is the only real rival there if Evgenia skates clean. Rika has 3A but is highly inconsistent.

She really needs to win there if she wants to go to the final.

The only thing I have a question mark for Orser is why Evghenia keeps getting such low levels on step sequence and spins. Also, it seems to me his ladies don't jump enough in practice. History says it all...

 

[Lunalovesskating]

She really needs to win there if she wants to go to the final.

The only thing I have a question mark for Orser is why Evghenia keeps getting such low levels on step sequence and spins. Also, it seems to me his ladies don't jump enough in practice. History says it all...

She got level 4 in her FS for her StSq. I think the Level 3 in the SP is due to her nerves. Yeah they need to work on her spins. I think if they switch out the second Lz in the FS with a Flip and add the 2A- 3Loop combo and work on the spins she can get gold over Rika, but it all depends on how consistent Rika will be with her 3A's. She is very unpredictable.

 

[TGee]

She really needs to win there if she wants to go to the final.

The only thing I have a question mark for Orser is why Evghenia keeps getting such low levels on step sequence and spins. Also, it seems to me his ladies don't jump enough in practice. History says it all...

I suspect that part of the issue with the spins is that they are trying to actually fix them at a fundamental level.

The score may not yet be great, but her skating foot is in an smaller box. Less of the bent ankle, slanting skating leg and radius as big as the length of her blade.

To get good fast spins, in a good position, and with less stress to her spine, this has to be fixed.

Ted Barton says it's just a matter of time to get good spins - 20 minutes a day - but the form has to be correct.

When the body memory for a good tight spiral with the skating foot is formed, I think we'll see better results than she's ever had.

 

[skatenewbie]

Little things like spins can mean the difference between the color of your medal… they need to work on them. Also she got her second edge call in her entire senior career today. They should have only done one lutz.

She has back pain, and loops put a lot of pressure on the back. That’s why she’s not doing a layback spin. I think she needs to lay off the loop combos and let her back heal.

yes, her flying sit spin is not so good now, she start wobbly and slow after the flying entry... ah i forgot she had back pain. i hope its not that bad and she still perform 3Lo. i dont want her to end up like Yuna and taking out 3Lo completely. Also agree with user who said that 2nd 3Lz need to go. She got e and if she had done 3F she would scored almost 7 point instead of 4. I think SC and SA was really harsh with UR. some of calls are wrong, some that actually not so UR. let's see how other GP fare. Also Medvedeva scoring potential is much lower now. i have hard time seeing her break 150+ tbh. i think 75-76 and 146-148 is ideal. If Rika did clean 3 3A then Medvedeva will take silver surely.

 

[atsumiri]

I suspect that part of the issue with the spins is that they are trying to actually fix them at a fundamental level.

Fix what? Fix something that was really great? .... yes. great idea. :thumbsup: really amazing idea! and really well done! everyone should try!

She used to have great spins with amazing positions, speed and acceleration. They were all well centered. And she always had level 4! always!.
if they wanted to break good spins. than. mission accomplished. :agree:

 

[Alexz]

Can I just say how much I love Tuk. She is my new Maria Butyrskaya. Not only is she gorgeous, she doesn't give up. She's been up high and seen some lows but, she keeps fighting and I love that. I sure hope she wins today. Sorry Med.

Oh, I see you measuring your skaters in butyrskayas. On a scale 1 to 10 how many butyrskayas is Liza?

 

[bobbob]

I don't understand the comments for Medvedeva improving...honestly, I just don't see it. Spins, steps, jumps, skating flow, transitions, everything is much worse. You say her "fundamentals" improved--what does that even mean? It's not her skating improving. I have to agree with the judges here. Which aspect of Medvedeva's skating improved?

Orser needs to take at least part of the blame. The choreography is horrible and not suitable for Evgenia at all. Why are you making her relearn spins/steps which were very good before? And the layout of the programs is very counterproductive for scoring. For instance, why in the world would you put your combo second in the short when if you miss the second jump, you get 0 automatically (no other lady does this)...whereas if you miss the first you can just tack it onto the second...this cost Evgenia around 10 points and the first place here. And when you know Evgenia has a bad lutz, why try to put in under the microscope as much as possible with 3 instead of 1 for a very marginal point gain of 1.5 points across both programs. Say what you want about Eteri's camp, but they work the scoring system, and they are SMART.

Evgenia needs to go back to Eteri, or at least adopt the old strategies she used. I think she will be smart enough to realize this, just based on her reactions here. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[madison]

Yes, Evgenia should have the combo first in the short, which will allow her to add it later if it doesn t work with the first jump. She had moments when she missed her combo in the short, under Eteri, and it s normal, but she could add it at the end.
And I agree that she should go with at maximum of 2 lutz, one in the short and one in the free, not with three.
On the other hand, I like the new dress for the free, it suits her.

 

[DSQ]

Medveda’s spin positions were always so beautiful, especially the hair cutter, but she did tend to travel a fair amount. Remember her layback spin at the last Euros?

Her consistency is worse since the move to Canada but when she hits her jumps they are so much higher and look more effortless, especially the toe jumps. I’m not a coach but perhaps because she’s learning a new technique it’ll take her time to get that consistency back? She still has time and hopefully her back will heal soon.

I’m gonna be in Helsinki next weekend so I’ll get to see Zagitova in person from the stands. I’m only there on Sunday (to see Phil Harris compete) so I’ll only see her in the gala unfortunately.

 

[Xzander]

I really love Liza's new attitude and her jumps but the skating is hard to watch. She looks so stiff from the upper body, the arms movements are very unaesthetic, the spins, the skating skills...

I think Evgenia will bounce back. I hope they will improve her endurance (definitely needs more training) and I agree, they should ditch the second Lz.

 

[DenissVFan]

Congratulations to Elizaveta, Evgenia and Daria on their respective achievements Scorewise all of them can definitely improve but they all showed perseverance in their own ways.

 

[halulupu]

your are all overracting over zhenya. its all about the harsh but IMO fair judging and the less protection from RusFed. Wwould she have scated the same program with the same content under eteri at rostelecom cup: +10 points. no flutzes called, level 4 on everything, even higher undeserved pcs.
yes eteri is smarter and would have never dared to put 3 flutzes in - but she knew she would get away with one. and yes zhenyas spins are regressing. but nothing to worry, spinning is all about practicing.

but its actually refreshing to see zhenya fairly judged. probably the first time ever!?
but the most important point and that was pretty clear today: her fire and determination is back!

 

[LenaRadiFan]

Fix what? Fix something that was really great? .... yes. great idea. :thumbsup: really amazing idea! and really well done! everyone should try!

She used to have great spins with amazing positions, speed and acceleration. They were all well centered. And she always had level 4! always!.
if they wanted to break good spins. than. mission accomplished. :agree:

Her laybackspin was never centered though.