2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Fluture]

Honestly, at this point I really, really hope Zhenya does NOT get that Worlds spot but rather gets sent to some other competitions. Even if she somehow manages to be in top form both mentally and physically by then, the backslash a decision like this would cause and the pressure to be perfect would simply be too much and I don‘t want that for her.

Would I like a situation where she gets sent to Worlds, absolutely slays there and forces all these people to finally shut up? Hell, yes. Do I think it‘s likely to happen? No. That‘s why I want her at a more “quiet“ competition with less focus of the media where she can maybe earn a medal and finish her season on a high note.

But really, we do not even know anything yet. What evidence have we got really? That Mishin said two members of the Euros team might be replaced? That one TSL guy said there will be a skate off? Let‘s not freak out before Euros. What if all three girls do well there? They will have to replace one for Liza but two? Would not be justifiable and I doubt they‘ll do it. My guess is that they wait for Euros to make the decision.

And imo, even if it would be unfair, rusfed has to play smart. The Japanese team is REALLY strong this season and while Liza and Alina obviously have all the chances to get two medals and the 3 spots for next year, we have seen what happened last year when someone like Stasya was sent who probably just wasn‘t ready and then bombed. Could Zhenya bomb too? Yes, of course she could, we have seen it more than once this season. It’s in fact more likely than her suddenly pulling off 220+ scores.

But really, what‘s so wrong about waiting for Euros, seeing how the two girls (I‘m saying two because I think Alina‘s spot is and should be secured) perform and then do a skate off for Liza and Zhenya to see who would be the best overall decision? I think if Zhenya does well at this skate off thing (for which we still don‘t have any solid evidence it will even happen) then she has a possible chance to do well at Worlds too. Pressure at this event will be huge, as it decides on her Worlds spot. If she does well there, it‘s likely she‘s back on track mentally and can pull of a solid performance at Worlds, too. If not... then not.

But then again, we still don‘t know ANYTHING and I think we should really wait for Euros. Given how RusFed acted in the past, it‘s pretty likely Alina, Liza and Sofia/Stasya go to Worlds and the other two girls will get spots at other competitions.

 

[SkateSkates]

Last year Tsurskaya was sent to the Russian Cup Final, but she didn’t have the best skate and finished off the podium.

Lipnitskaya went in 2016 too iirc when they were considering swapping her in for Pogorilaya after her multiple fall euros performance.

 

[Scott512]

For those of you who don't want zhenya to go to Worlds this season in reality this may be her last best chance to go to a world championship with the influx of young Russian coming next season. Zhenya has never lost at a world championship so it's Stanislava or Sofia bomb at euros a spot for worlds could open up to Evgenia. I don't expect either of them to bomb that Europeans because they both skated too well this year. But if one of them does stumble at Europeans that how could you not send Medvedeva to Worlds considering she's never lost at worlds and considering she got Russia in the Olympics last year with her great presentation and speech in front of the Olympic Committee pleading with them for allowing Russian athletes in the Olympics?

 

[[email protected]]

For those of you who don't want zhenya to go to Worlds this season in reality this may be her last best chance to go to a world championship with the influx of young Russian coming next season. Zhenya has never lost at a world championship so it's Stanislava or Sofia bomb at euros a spot for worlds could open up to Evgenia. I don't expect either of them to bomb that Europeans because they both skated too well this year. But if one of them does stumble at Europeans that how could you not send Medvedeva to Worlds considering she's never lost at worlds and considering she got Russia in the Olympics last year with her great presentation and speech in front of the Olympic Committee pleading with them for allowing Russian athletes in the Olympics?

It was Zhenya with Eteri. Zhenya with Borser has not won anything yet let alone the worlds. There is no immediate hope in how she skates this season. There is only pain of her adjusting. And Borser clearly said 18 months which is March 2020. Well, Russian Cup and Cup of Tirol. 2 clean performances. 215-220 scores and I shall reconsider. Not before.

 

[esteticlove]

Let's leave Alina's reputation as an Olympic gold medallist aside. She deserves her spot because of two gold medals at the GP this season and a silver at GPF. She has the highest scoring potential among Russian ladies and usually hits this potential despite minor mistakes. Olympic gold or not, she's still in form this season and this fairly earned her spot, she has worked hard for it.

Liza - let's leave her weak seasons aside. She also has 2 golds at the GP circuit this season and won bronze at GPF. She has a 3A, technically she's a big contender. She's lacking PCs, which I think is kind of justified for her presentation, but still she has good chances to get on the podium, if she's healthy and shows clean skating. It might not be a gold but it should be enough to ensure 3 spots for next season, I hope? Liza also has earned her Worlds spot fairly, she has been preparing for a long time.

Stanislava - let's close our eyes and forget about the politicking around her from last year. This season she showed better results, I know she won silver over Medvedeva, I have no idea how her 2nd GP event went for her. She's not my favourite skater, there a lot of things that I don't enjoy about her skating, but I see that she has improved. She skated good at RussNats and got 1st among the seniors. Politicking or not, she technically deserves her Euro spot. I think this is a great opportunity for her to prove that she's capable of skating clean. It will also be her golden chance to outskate Sofia and to secure a Worlds spot. If she manages to do this, she deserves to go to Worlds.

Sofia - the same as for Stanislava, without the politicking thing. I think she doesn't have a high scoring potential but we can't know how the judges will score her. Still, she earned her Euros place from RussNats. She deserves to go, with or without a scoring potential.

Zhenya - I leave her Olympic silver medallist and 2 times World Champion reputation aside. This season was.. rough for her. I see that international judges still like her, they are ready to give her big scores but the skating is not there, for whatever of reason. She showed 2 times this season that she can redeem herself after a disastrous skate and that she still have the fire. For Euros this might be enough, but for Worlds it won't be. She needs a strong SP and a strong free programme. I doubt that we'll see such skates if she somehow shows up to those competitions. That's why I don't think that she should to go to Euros and Worlds. If RussFed send her, they'll destroy any trust in the fairness of this sport..for the cost of Evgenia.

 

[Fluture]

Let's leave Alina's reputation as an Olympic gold medallist aside. She deserves her spot because of two gold medals at the GP this season and a silver at GPF. She has the highest scoring potential among Russian ladies and usually hits this potential despite minor mistakes. Olympic gold or not, she's still in form this season and this fairly earned her spot, she has worked hard for it.

Liza - let's leave her weak seasons aside. She also has 2 golds at the GP circuit this season and won bronze at GPF. She has a 3A, technically she's a big contender. She's lacking PCs, which I think is kind of justified for her presentation, but still she has good chances to get on the podium, if she's healthy and shows clean skating. It might not be a gold but it should be enough to ensure 3 spots for next season, I hope? Liza also has earned her Worlds spot fairly, she has been preparing for a long time.

Stanislava - let's close our eyes and forget about the politicking around her from last year. This season she showed better results, I know she won silver over Medvedeva, I have no idea how her 2nd GP event went for her. She's not my favourite skater, there a lot of things that I don't enjoy about her skating, but I see that she has improved. She skated good at RussNats and got 1st among the seniors. Politicking or not, she technically deserves her Euro spot. I think this is a great opportunity for her to prove that she's capable of skating clean. It will also be her golden chance to outskate Sofia and to secure a Worlds spot. If she manages to do this, she deserves to go to Worlds.

Sofia - the same as for Stanislava, without the politicking thing. I think she doesn't have a high scoring potential but we can't know how the judges will score her. Still, she earned her Euros place from RussNats. She deserves to go, with or without a scoring potential.

Zhenya - I leave her Olympic silver medallist and 2 times World Champion reputation aside. This season was.. rough for her. I see that international judges still like her, they are ready to give her big scores but the skating is not there, for whatever of reason. She showed 2 times this season that she can redeem herself after a disastrous skate and that she still have the fire. For Euros this might be enough, but for Worlds it won't be. She needs a strong SP and a strong free programme. I doubt that we'll such skates if she somehow shows up to those competitions. That's why I don't think that she should to go to Euros and Worlds. If RussFed send her, they'll destroy any trust in the fairness of this sport..for the cost of Evgenia.

I completely agree. I don‘t think anyone ever suggested Alina only deserved her spot because of OGM, though. She deserved it because she‘s won both GP events and has a medal at GPF THIS season. Liza has a medal from GPF, too and it‘s a shame that she had to miss RusNats but not her fault.

About Evgenia: Actually, I have said it what feels like a hundred times already but I much rather would see her at the Universiade, together with the second Euros girl that‘s replaced by Liza. She just isn‘t ready, both mentally and physically to deliver two completely clean performances and she would need them at a field like Worlds and under such scrunity and pressure of the media. I want to give her time and let her end the season with a higher note at competitions like WTT or Unibersiade where she could earn a medal and a higher season‘s best. I think it would benefit her more than going to Worlds without being completely ready. I actually agree with samkrut on that, if she shows two completely clean performances and a score of 215, I will trust her and say she might be ready. Otherwise, no. I just don‘t think it will be good for her. We have seen how people and some “fans“ reacted only in here at the smallest possibility of her getting a spot. She would face a lot of hate and that‘s the last thing she needs now. It would be a highly controversial decision and the pressure to do well and to “prove“ she deserves it would intensify and I doubt she is ready for that. I say, give her time and some lower level competitions with less prestige and media coverage than Worlds. If she proves she somehow got it together, well then... maybe. But that‘s still a shaky maybe from me. Honestly, all arguments speak against Worlds and for Universiade and I will repeat that until Rusfed listens to me.

 

[Scott512]

It was Zhenya with Eteri. Zhenya with Borser has not won anything yet let alone the worlds. There is no immediate hope in how she skates this season. There is only pain of her adjusting. And Borser clearly said 18 months which is March 2020. Well, Russian Cup and Cup of Tirol. 2 clean performances. 215-220 scores and I shall reconsider. Not before.

Fair points.

 

[esteticlove]

I completely agree. I don‘t think anyone ever suggested Alina only deserved her spot because of OGM, though. She deserved it because she‘s won both GP events and has a medal at GPF THIS season. Liza has a medal from GPF, too and it‘s a shame that she had to miss RusNats but not her fault.

It's exactly what I meant. I implied that I don't consider the reputation of those 3 ladies (Alina, Liza, Zhenya) because I am against a system that would promote a skater just because of his achievements in the past, especially over someone who was worked hard for his spot. Last year, Medvedeva was injured, she skipped RussNats but her spot for Euros was secure. She won a silver there, just behind Alina. It was fair enough. This year, a similar narrative for Liza - she skipped RussNats and is not going to Euros due to her pneumonia but in my opinion, she won't let her federation down at Worlds. Splat fests are always possible, but she's been pretty good this season.

About Evgenia: Actually, I have said it what feels like a hundred times already but I much rather would see her at the Universiade, together with the second Euros girl that‘s replaced by Liza. She just isn‘t ready, both mentally and physically to deliver two completely clean performances and she would need them at a field like Worlds and under such scrunity and pressure of the media. I want to give her time and let her end the season with a higher note at competitions like WTT or Unibersiade where she could earn a medal and a higher season‘s best. I think it would benefit her more than going to Worlds without being completely ready. I actually agree with samkrut on that, if she shows two completely clean performances and a score of 215, I will trust her and say she might be ready. Otherwise, no. I just don‘t think it will be good for her.

I completely agree. They should give her the Universiad competition. It will be good for her - she'll stay in shape and this is an opportunity to test her nerves one more time. She's my favourite skater and I would be happy to see her compete on the international scene. But right now, she's not ready for Worlds. Especially considering that she's training probably alone (?) at CSKA at the moment. It's very weird.

 

[silverfoxes]

They should send the skaters who deserve to go based on performance. It is 100% irrelevant what some random people post on message boards and I'm sure the Russian Fed will not factor in any of your opinions (or mine, for that matter). Whatever will be, will be.

 

[esteticlove]

They should send the skaters who deserve to go based on performance. It is 100% irrelevant what some random people post on message boards and I'm sure the Russian Fed will not factor in any of your opinions (or mine, for that matter). Whatever will be, will be.

Well, I don't have the hope that the Russian Federation will read my posts and make their minds. I just use the opportunity to discuss an interesting topic for me with other people who share the same interest.

 

[j00mla]

For those of you who don't want zhenya to go to Worlds this season in reality this may be her last best chance to go to a world championship with the influx of young Russian coming next season. Zhenya has never lost at a world championship so it's Stanislava or Sofia bomb at euros a spot for worlds could open up to Evgenia. I don't expect either of them to bomb that Europeans because they both skated too well this year. But if one of them does stumble at Europeans that how could you not send Medvedeva to Worlds considering she's never lost at worlds and considering she got Russia in the Olympics last year with her great presentation and speech in front of the Olympic Committee pleading with them for allowing Russian athletes in the Olympics?

Any evidence that her speech actually influenced the decision? Sorry, I don't remember anything like that. But I do remember that Stepanova/Bukin and Stolbova/Klimov did not get to the Olympics without any guilt.

 

[moriel]

People, please don't bring the IOC presentation once more.
It is pretty obvious that the person who went there what this person said was basically irrelevant. Decisions on such level are not taken because some person went there and gave a speech. Russia was allowed to participate in Olympics not because of Zhenya, but because some agreement was worked out. Russia could have sent any person there, Zagitova, Sotskova, some random non FS athlete, and the result would be the same, because IOC did not make the decision based on a speech and presentation of an athlete.

 

[andromache]

People, please don't bring the IOC presentation once more.
It is pretty obvious that the person who went there what this person said was basically irrelevant. Decisions on such level are not taken because some person went there and gave a speech. Russia was allowed to participate in Olympics not because of Zhenya, but because some agreement was worked out. Russia could have sent any person there, Zagitova, Sotskova, some random non FS athlete, and the result would be the same, because IOC did not make the decision based on a speech and presentation of an athlete.

Being the face of clean sport in Russia is still a big deal and an enormous amount of pressure. If she had given a bad speech or somehow embarrassed herself, or if the IOC decision had gone against Russia, then she would've been a huge target of criticism.

I 100% do NOT think that anyone should be sent to a competition because of a speech they made a year ago. But let's give Evgenia credit for taking on a difficult responsibility.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

[SUP][/SUP]

If your puppy isn’t in tip top shape then are you really in tip top shape :think:

 

[Fluture]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsb3Go9hLfE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=19h4tw3gl8jdy

To steer away from some of the ridiculous things that‘s going on with some people here: Sasha and Alena side by side flip. I think they‘re both absolutely beautiful jumps but they use different technique. Sasha is faster, more explosive but doesn‘t jump as high. Alena rotates slower but gets better height. And she also has sort of a leg wrap, it looks a bit lose compared to Sasha. I hope this won’t be a problem later on when she grows and loses some of her rotational speed Interestingly enough they take off and land at the same time.

Aesthetically I prefer Alena‘s jump. What do you all think?

It would be interesting to have a comparison of the 3A next to each other, with Anna included. They all use different technique, which is intriguing.

For me, jump wise, it‘s Alena > Sasha > Anna

Spins Alena > Anna > Sasha and

Footwork Alena > Anna > Sasha

But that‘s pretty subjective and I think it‘s very obvious that Alena is my favourite.

- - - Updated - - -

[SUP][/SUP]View attachment 377

If your puppy isn’t in tip top shape then are you really in tip top shape :think:

The fact that Tina is in a princess dress and Sasha is standing up above her like: “Run, Tina, run!!“ makes this whole picture even more amusing.

 

[Watch]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsb3Go9hLfE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=19h4tw3gl8jdy

To steer away from some of the ridiculous things that‘s going on with some people here: Sasha and Alena side by side flip. I think they‘re both absolutely beautiful jumps but they use different technique. Sasha is faster, more explosive but doesn‘t jump as high. Alena rotates slower but gets better height. And she also has sort of a leg wrap, it looks a bit lose compared to Sasha. I hope this won’t be a problem later on when she grows and loses some of her rotational speed Interestingly enough they take off and land at the same time.

Aesthetically I prefer Alena‘s jump. What do you all think?

If the speed wasn't tweaked to make the jumps synch, I'm amazed at how synchronised they are. Really aesthetically pleasing to see it that way.

 

[Fluture]

If the speed wasn't tweaked to make the jumps synch, I'm amazed at how synchronised they are. Really aesthetically pleasing to see it that way.

Yes, I could watch that video all day. I don‘t know whether the speed was tweaked or not... but either way I found it great to compare the two and the technique they use. I wish we had a video of all three of the 3A, that would be even more pleasing to watch

For me, Anna, Sasha and Alena are some of the most interesting juniors ever because they can all win on any given day but they‘re very different at the same time.

 

[andromache]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsb3Go9hLfE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=19h4tw3gl8jdy

To steer away from some of the ridiculous things that‘s going on with some people here: Sasha and Alena side by side flip. I think they‘re both absolutely beautiful jumps but they use different technique. Sasha is faster, more explosive but doesn‘t jump as high. Alena rotates slower but gets better height. And she also has sort of a leg wrap, it looks a bit lose compared to Sasha. I hope this won’t be a problem later on when she grows and loses some of her rotational speed Interestingly enough they take off and land at the same time.

I prefer Alena's jump as well (Alena is also my girl!!!). But I think it's tough to compare because Alena clearly has a preference for the flip whereas Sasha prefers the lutz, and every skater is better at one or the other. Alena's flip is better than Sasha's flip (IMO), but what about Alena's flip versus Sasha's lutz? That would be a tougher comparison.

I also hope Alena gets her leg wrap fixed soon. It's her one and only flaw .

 

[malya]

Maybe it would be nice to split this thread to accommodate everyone?

1) Russian Ladies (competitions)
2) Russian Ladies (rumors/general talk)
3) F4A Evgenia Medvedeva & TAT and her crew vs Eteri - Pretty drama about instagram, SMS, fanbaiting, clickbaity headlines to create hype and general conspirancy theories welcome

 

[Scott512]

Any evidence that her speech actually influenced the decision? Sorry, I don't remember anything like that. But I do remember that Stepanova/Bukin and Stolbova/Klimov did not get to the Olympics without any guilt.

Yes the evidence is I saw Medvedeva on video speaking to the Olympic Committee when Russia was going to be kept out of the Olympics and then all of a sudden they are in the Olympics as OAR. I credit evgenia.