2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

VenusHalley · Feb 25, 2019

Vandevska said:
This is seriously not good for anyone, including all athletes. I don't think it's about wanting to monitor the girls at all (for example Alina if injured), because last year Evgenia was injured and they made it much simpler. There must be another reason, and clearly there are too many people pulling the strings.

It is very messy. If they lose spots they can blame their mind games.

linps · Feb 25, 2019

Never a dull day in Russian figure skating

DSQ · Feb 25, 2019

Arbitrary said:
From press:

RusFed plans to inform the ISU they want to specify "an extended team".
Likely all the names will be included (5 or 6). They ask the ISU to accept as is and allow to name the actual three a couple of weeks before the WC.
Like having 0 contenders and 6 substitutions.
RusFed doesn't know who from all those will be "alive" long enough to participate.

The ISU may accept or refuse but the letter must be closed before 14:00 Moscow time.
And knowing how good their lowers and bureaucrats it's possible Russia will not be allowed to participate at all (ladies).

This is ridiculous. Also it’s already after 14:00 in Moscow.

lusterfan · Feb 25, 2019

Too many dissenting opinions at the top, leading to no conclusive decision without offending someone important. Although, I'm also sure they're equally as torn about which skaters will yield the best results. Will Alina have another meltdown? Will Liza get high enough PCS and land those triple axels? Will Evgenia's reputation be enough? Will Sofia's consistency be enough if everyone skates perfectly? The ones at the top clearly have different opinions as to which risks they are willing to take.

sunn1ly · Feb 25, 2019

Why don't Rus Fed just ask to have three figure skaters that will compete and the other just participate out of the rankings for audience pleasure, I will be happy to have 3 more from Japan as well.
But seriously they should announce 3 skaters. All of the skaters in the list are worthy to be at worlds for some reason, by not announcing they are putting pressure on the competitors and make room for doubts and speculations.

lusterfan · Feb 25, 2019

Merit wise from this season, name Alina, Sofia, Liza, with Evgenia as alternate first. Then, swap x out for y if they want when there's no longer a deadline.

They are probably afraid of potential backlash from within and from fans if they do any swapping, hence the tough decision to name the team from the get-go.

melgirl25 · Feb 25, 2019

sunn1ly said:
Why don't Rus Fed just ask to have three figure skaters that will compete and the other just participate out of the rankings for audience pleasure, I will be happy to have 3 more from Japan as well.
But seriously they should announce 3 skaters. All of the skaters in the list are worthy to be at worlds for some reason, by not announcing they are putting pressure on the competitors and make room for doubts and speculations.

They may also talking about the men’s spots?

malya · Feb 25, 2019

RusFed helllooo
Anyone knows the 4 names in consideration just write them down in whatever order and w/e we now know there is this 'injury' drama to come
It's only shocking if they add Konstantinova to the first 3 or if Alina is off

I also haven't read any Interviews with the usual suspects on who should be on the team

- - - Updated - - -

melgirl25 said:
They may also talking about the men’s spots?

Mens, Pairs and Dance are all no brainers this year

Scott512 · Feb 25, 2019

CellarDweller said:
I can't even think of why speculation is starting that Alina won't be on the World's team. She's the reigning OGM, European silver medalist, and (correct me if I'm wrong) based on the competitions before Worlds, doesn't she have the best record of the Russian skaters?

If she's ill or injured, that's different, but do you really think the Russian Federation wouldn't name her to the World Team? I just can't see that happening.

Pouchkine said:
Figure Skaters need their home federation to help them in the beginning...That's why it's important. But I do agree 3 spot for Canada and 3 for Russia at the moment is a big joke. Time to review this.

Thank you. Not only review it do something about it.

pearly · Feb 25, 2019

Alina's technique is obviously failing her and that might be why some people are not sure if the would be on the team. That said, I think she'll be named to the team.

theharleyquinn · Feb 25, 2019

This is a lot of fanfare to mask the fact that they want to name Zhenya but don't know how to do so neatly.

Giltedge · Feb 25, 2019

Giltedge said:
A rousing cheer for yet another Team Tutberidze marvel

Veronika Zhilina, 10 y.o., has won the 2019 Cup of Shcherbinka (honouring Defender of the Fatherland Day)

Short Programme 46.78, Free Skate 72.96, Total 119.74

SP

https://youtu.be/gpWGtiEithA

FS - 3Lz+2T, 3S and 3F+2T

https://youtu.be/rE1iB7CFucc

Championships of Moscow, Veronika leading the Short Programme (Girls YA) on 55.45
:clap:

Arbitrary · Feb 25, 2019

theharleyquinn said:
This is a lot of fanfare to mask the fact that they want to name Zhenya but don't know how to do so neatly.

I'd say they want to send both MED and TUKT but not ZAGI. ZAGI and MED cannot be in the same team or the "Harding-Karrigan Season 2, episode 2" catfight is inevitable. (But we could like the catfight, yes?)

Also it's still possible yet unlikely the Tutberidze girls will take all the available slots next year.
Tutberidze and RusFed cannot ask ZAGI to go and fight for slots only with no chance for a medal. She's the last OGM for Russia and who knows when any new available.
And they cannot ask Samodurova to be a good girl and catch a cold or a trauma in due time. She's an ECGold.

Speaking of a potential medal I'd say TUKT is closer to 3rd place than MED. SP starting order is very important here.

Watch · Feb 25, 2019

theharleyquinn said:
This is a lot of fanfare to mask the fact that they want to name Zhenya but don't know how to do so neatly.

Oh please. If that was really what they wanted, they'd just do so. Rusfed cares about keeping Russia's three spots for the next season, because next nationals are going to be a massacre, and about getting a medal, because there's a decent chance that Russia isn't going to podium in any of three other disciplines. And they have a very hard time deciding who's the safest bet to accomplish those goals, because that's the kind of season we're having.

theharleyquinn · Feb 25, 2019

Watch said:
Oh please. If that was really what they wanted, they'd just do so. Rusfed cares about keeping Russia's three spots for the next season, because next nationals are going to be a massacre, and about getting a medal, because there's a decent chance that Russia isn't going to podium in any of three other disciplines. And they have a very hard time deciding who's the safest bet to accomplish those goals, because that's the kind of season we're having.

Wanting to safely keep 3 spots is at the core of this whole thing. What I said isn't controversial. The scoring this season has indicated that Zhenya is a safe bet for a top 6 finish. The problem with sending Liza and Sofia together with Alina is that Alina is the only one with a PCS cushion, and that's concerning if Rusfed is worried about tech issues on the day.

What is supposed to change with Liza and Zhenya in the next few weeks that they need even more time? They've shown everything.

malya · Feb 25, 2019

Zzzz RusFed please the theories are already getting so riddiculous we can't wait any longer! :palmf:

My FS · Feb 25, 2019

Veronika Zhilina young star Tutberidze.Championship Of Moscow 25.02.2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opeD-5z5U6M

CanadianSkaterGuy · Feb 25, 2019

Manitou said:
I think you are missing the point of the discussion. I know the rules. It's only an academic discussion. That's why we are all here for.

Anyway, I think there may a compromise. Say, six skaters with current season's top points qualify automatically. No matter what. They are also NOT included in country quotas. They are free agents outside of the system.
Then the rest go under the current existing rules, including country quotas.
For example: three Japanese, two Russians and one American make season's top six leading to WC. So they are going, period. Then, after doing the usual process, we end up with total six Japanese (3+3), five Russians (2+3) , four Americans (1+3) and the rest. I think it's fair. The WC have to swallow six extra skaters, I think they can manage it.

Not only would competitions be longer but the top spots could be monopolized that much more by countries that invest more time and money into their skaters and you'll rarely see any skaters from outlying countries break the top group.

Season's best are all relative anyways. Someone can go to a favourable competition like Mordavian Ornament (typically known for crazy high scores) or at the start of the season they could do really well at a CS event and then dwindle or get injured and still be entitled to a spot at Worlds compared to someone who may be healthier or skating better at that point.

Also your proposed process is redundant and contradicts your earlier point that a skater shouldn't be entitled to go simply because another skater qualified a spot for them. If 3 Japanese had a season's best these would very likely be skaters who won the spots at the previous Worlds in the first place and then another 3 got to go, which is redundant. If five Russians had the top scores and 8 got to compete at Worlds it would basically be a Russian nationals and not a *World* championships.

Also, if Osmond competed this season and had one of the top six scores, that would mean her plus 3 more Canadians (via the usual process) would get to skate at Worlds... and you wouldn't want 4 Canadians at Worlds right?

WhiteProphet · Feb 25, 2019

After reading some comments here and considering the RusFed behaviour, the only thing I want from these Worlds is to Zagitova to go and SLAY.
Japanese ladies are my favourite, but the Russian drama has been such a cathartic experience that the only sentiment left in me is the hope that Alina will be the best among the russian, having a fantastic skate and winning a medal, I don't even care what colour. [emoji849]