2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

[Vandevska]

7 skaters are pretty much guaranteed 2 Grand Prix spots.

...and the rest of the post

Thank you for doing this recap. It's just what I needed :luv17:

 

[Vandevska]

Apparently Alena won't participate in the Eteri show. This situation is breaking my heart more and more

 

[DeeDee18]

You do not have to go personal.

Zhenya is allowed not to answer Eteri´s text messages. You do not know what happened behind the curtain between Eteri and Zhenya. Nothing excuses in my opinion the telephone interview and you are certainly aware that only after the telephone interview the drama started?

I wouldn't be surprised if Eteri deleted Zhenya's text messages herself . have you seen her vk and Instagram accounts where she deletes everything she doesn't like??? lool

 

[DeeDee18]

People are allowed not to like her after that. Eteri doesn't need an excuse. If Med acts like a hypocrite, she should be ready for figure skating fans to know that, nobody is obliged to protect her reputation. Anyway, I doubt she will be a part of the national team next season, she will be completely forgotten in two years from now, like Radionova and Pogo. So, nothing to talk about.

Nike will make sure she's not forgotten

 

[flanker]

I wouldn't be surprised if Eteri deleted Zhenya's text messages herself . have you seen her vk and Instagram accounts where she deletes everything she doesn't like??? lool

Yes, she's deleted them from Zhenya's phone too, definitely. Like "I know she's replied to me but I will say she didn't, she can show it anytime to anyone, but I will rely on she won't"

People, stop this useless war. Let's agree on we can't agree and move on.

 

[LenaRadiFan]

7 skaters are pretty much guaranteed 2 Grand Prix spots.

Zagitova Medvedeva Kostornaia Shcherbakova Trusova Samodurova Tuktymysheva

Four other skaters have top 24 scores which guarantees them one spot if the Russian Fed enters their name: Konstantinova, Gubanova, Sakhanovich, Tarusina(probably will stay junior). Out of these I'd prefer Gubanova get 2 spots.

I doubt it, but Sotskova may still be in the top 24 in the standings. It'll be kind of sad to see her miss out.

Here are six junior skaters from this year who will probably skate junior next year: Kanysheva Tarakanova Guliakova Sinitsyna Vasilieva Tarusina(could go senior with guaranteed Grand Prix spot)

I really haven't paid attention to Russian novices this year.

Here are a few Russian novices eligible to skate junior next year: Kamila Valieva, Maya Khromykh, and Daria Usacheva will be junior eligible Eteri skaters. Sofia Muravieva beat Khromykh and Usacheva at a recent moscow competition. Anna Frolova was 3rd at the Cup of Russia Final for juniors. There are some others that are capable of scoring 180+ in internal competitions but I'm not going to list them because I haven't been paying much attention to these competitions this year. Here are pages to look for though: Cup of Russia Final, Junior Nationals, Zhuk Memorial, Zonal Nationals.

Three relatively unknown skaters switched to other countries for this season: Ekaterina Ryabova(13th at both senior and junior worlds), Anna Kuzmenko(15th at junior worlds), Alina Soupian(24th at junior worlds). I kind of have mixed feeling about skaters like them switching. Nice to see them at the junior grand prix but not so sure it's great to see them bump skaters skating for their home countries out of the top 24 at junior worlds.

Orphan skaters who have skated on the junior and senior grand prixs and probably won't get a spot: Sotskova, Tsurskaya, Nugamanova, Panenkova, Pogorilaya, Radionova(surely retired), Leonova(surprised didn't retire a long time ago), Panenkova, Fedichkina, Mikhailova

There are many skaters(including many unlisted) who if their main goal was just to skate in the Olympics could switch countries and probably achieve that goal. The politics behind this would be interesting. Some countries would welcome them with open arms and some might welcome if they're true medal contenders. But I could definitely see some of the other federations be unhappy if they lose out on sending someone to the Olympics because of ex-Russians flocking to other countries.

Aren't Kostornaia, Sherbakova and Trusova not guaranteed two spots because they're just moving up? I thought I read something like this in the rules but I'm not too sure.
And can we please stop saying that skaters are done or have surely retired(I know, I might love my older russian ladies too much, but I will miss them so much) if they haven't announced it themselves? Like who knows, maybe Leonova will be one of the ladies to make the team next year

 

[ramed]

My point was that Eteri works for Russia and is paid by Rusfed. Zhenya got in so much trouble for "abandoning" her country by switching coaches. She was called a traitor. But when Eteri celebrates and cheers for someone to defeat Russia, no one has a problem with it. This is just her coaching an international student, it has nothing to do with loyalty or national pride. But Zhenya doing the same thing, going to an international coach, is seen as high treason.

Seen by whom? By scandal sheets? By bad journalists? By Russian bears in their winter dens? Am trying hard to understand who/what was the target of this generalization. We're in the off-season, real news are hard to find indeed, dead horses are what we're left with for beating...

 

[Vandevska]

Aren't Kostornaia, Sherbakova and Trusova not guaranteed two spots because they're just moving up? I thought I read something like this in the rules but I'm not too sure.

Perhaps, but considering their success (I'm expecting at least Trusova to win at least 1 of her events) I think they'll get 2 events for sure. After all, when Sofia could've gotten 2, why not them?

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Yes, she's deleted them from Zhenya's phone too, definitely. Like "I know she's replied to me but I will say she didn't, she can show it anytime to anyone, but I will rely on she won't"

People, stop this useless war. Let's agree on we can't agree and move on.

Agreed. People got Eteri being like: https://media1.tenor.com/images/457e698955f452816dc77f6960ac4e4c/tenor.gif?itemid=4645010

 

[ramed]

...(I know, I might love my older russian ladies too much, but I will miss them so much) ... Like who knows, maybe Leonova will be one of the ladies to make the team next year

With all due respect to Alena (Al-YO-na is more like it, actually) I'd love even more to see there Radionova or Pogorilaya, let alone a lot of other fab skaters who no longer compete among the tops. I'm speaking of those who don't participate simply because they can't find any open slots for continuing their career. I wish the world of FS was more like tennis where there are plenty of competitions with different budgets running every year and providing enough place for the athletes off the very top tier. They still have enough room to show up and please their fans, and can earn enough to proceed. That would make a pretty different and varied FS...

 

[Jontor]

7 skaters are pretty much guaranteed 2 Grand Prix spots.

Zagitova Medvedeva Kostornaia Shcherbakova Trusova Samodurova Tuktymysheva

Four other skaters have top 24 scores which guarantees them one spot if the Russian Fed enters their name: Konstantinova, Gubanova, Sakhanovich, Tarusina(probably will stay junior). Out of these I'd prefer Gubanova get 2 spots.

I doubt it, but Sotskova may still be in the top 24 in the standings. It'll be kind of sad to see her miss out.

Here are six junior skaters from this year who will probably skate junior next year: Kanysheva Tarakanova Guliakova Sinitsyna Vasilieva Tarusina(could go senior with guaranteed Grand Prix spot)

I really haven't paid attention to Russian novices this year.

Here are a few Russian novices eligible to skate junior next year: Kamila Valieva, Maya Khromykh, and Daria Usacheva will be junior eligible Eteri skaters. Sofia Muravieva beat Khromykh and Usacheva at a recent moscow competition. Anna Frolova was 3rd at the Cup of Russia Final for juniors. There are some others that are capable of scoring 180+ in internal competitions but I'm not going to list them because I haven't been paying much attention to these competitions this year. Here are pages to look for though: Cup of Russia Final, Junior Nationals, Zhuk Memorial, Zonal Nationals.

Three relatively unknown skaters switched to other countries for this season: Ekaterina Ryabova(13th at both senior and junior worlds), Anna Kuzmenko(15th at junior worlds), Alina Soupian(24th at junior worlds). I kind of have mixed feeling about skaters like them switching. Nice to see them at the junior grand prix but not so sure it's great to see them bump skaters skating for their home countries out of the top 24 at junior worlds.

Orphan skaters who have skated on the junior and senior grand prixs and probably won't get a spot: Sotskova, Tsurskaya, Nugamanova, Panenkova, Pogorilaya, Radionova(surely retired), Leonova(surprised didn't retire a long time ago), Panenkova, Fedichkina, Mikhailova

There are many skaters(including many unlisted) who if their main goal was just to skate in the Olympics could switch countries and probably achieve that goal. The politics behind this would be interesting. Some countries would welcome them with open arms and some might welcome if they're true medal contenders. But I could definitely see some of the other federations be unhappy if they lose out on sending someone to the Olympics because of ex-Russians flocking to other countries.

Yes it will be exciting to see how it all plays out. I agree with the 7 ladies that will probably get two spots. And I think that Konstantinova and Sotskova will get 2 spots each as they are both in the Top 24 world ranking list.

Sadly that would mean that Gubanova, Tarusina and Sakhanovich will be left out...

The Seasons best list is crazy this year for the Russian ladies. And poor Leonova who had her all time high result this year is only the 4th runner up to get a GP spot.

 

[NaVi]

Yes it will be exciting to see how it all plays out. I agree with the 7 ladies that will probably get two spots. And I think that Konstantinova and Sotskova will get 2 spots each as they are both in the Top 24 world ranking list.
Sadly that would mean that Gubanova, Tarusina and Sakhanovich will be left out...

Sotskova is likely to fall out of the top 24. And Konstantinova is only guaranteed one spot even if she has both a top 24 score and a top 24 ranking.

But someone elsewhere mentioned that it's possible that Radionova and Pogorilaya could possibly qualify for return skater status.

 

[j00mla]

Aren't Kostornaia, Sherbakova and Trusova not guaranteed two spots because they're just moving up? I thought I read something like this in the rules but I'm not too sure.

never heard about this rule, they all are in top-10 of ISU list of seasons best http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/pbslto.htm and 100% will get two spots each

 

[LenaRadiFan]

never heard about this rule, they all are in top-10 of ISU list of seasons best http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/pbslto.htm and 100% will get two spots each

Oooh, no I just thought about the wrong thing. I thought that they are guaranteed two spots bc of their placements at junior worlds [emoji23]

 

[LenaRadiFan]

With all due respect to Alena (Al-YO-na is more like it, actually) I'd love even more to see there Radionova or Pogorilaya, let alone a lot of other fab skaters who no longer compete among the tops. I'm speaking of those who don't participate simply because they can't find any open slots for continuing their career. I wish the world of FS was more like tennis where there are plenty of competitions with different budgets running every year and providing enough place for the athletes off the very top tier. They still have enough room to show up and please their fans, and can earn enough to proceed. That would make a pretty different and varied FS...

I might just be biased here ;-), but wouldn't it be even more exciting if someone like Radionova or Pogorilaya would have a great comeback, rather than the 3A that we all expect to do well? I mean, I will root for them too, but somehow comebacks are always more interesting to me that just the good juniors moving up

 

[ramed]

There are many skaters(including many unlisted) who if their main goal was just to skate in the Olympics could switch countries and probably achieve that goal. The politics behind this would be interesting. Some countries would welcome them with open arms and some might welcome if they're true medal contenders. But I could definitely see some of the other federations be unhappy if they lose out on sending someone to the Olympics because of ex-Russians flocking to other countries.

I'd love to see this scenario (flocking to other countries) but alas only a few can make it. Other feds just don't have enough resources. That's a real shame, a huge waste of talent. We badly need nation-less competitions where only the athlete's personal rating matters. Justice for all. No, doctor please I don't need your medicines, I'm well, get me out of this straitjacket.

 

[Autumn Leaves]

JWC 2019, Zagreb

I never found the time to share my experience from JWC in Zagreb. Maybe now is a good time to change the subject a little bit... Vandevska already did a wonderful overview of the competition, so I will just highlight several things:

Surprisingly for me, the gala turned to be even more exciting than the competition, because Sasha was truly Unstoppable. I got really emotional watching these girls go out on the ice happy, giggling and brave, and later realised why. Only next year, things will become much more serious. They will have to deal with growth, higher scrutiny, bigger responsibility, greater performance anxiety, Fed games, fan wars, more fierce rivalries and possibly injuries. I sincerely hope they miraculously avoid all the negativity of senior age, but who knows what next year will bring? But that night, it was not important. That night everything was exciting and fun and they were on top of the world. We were all there to celebrate with Sasha, the bravest and strongest girl in the world, a modern Pippilota. She was truly invincible and unstoppable that night. Congrats to the team for the program and the music choice; it perfectly fit!

I didn't count the quads they did after the programs; they were so many and some of the falls were scary. I knew Sasha wouldn't leave the ice until she lands them. For me, it was amazing how someone who seems so shy and tiny off the ice, becomes really big and intimidating on the ice. She was a bit of a hooligan there as she and Anna completely disregarded the other champions, the announcements that the show is over, etc.

I didn't approach anyone, but as I was leaving after the gala, Sasha passed by me, running and being obviously late. To my own surprise, I quickly told her (shouted, actually) that she was great, so she stopped, turned back, smiled to me and waved! There, envy me for I have a personal, heart-melting smile and a wave from the champ!

It is weird that I write so much about Sasha, because I actually have a soft spot for Anna (as much as it is possible to have favourites among the three of them). Anna was brilliant both in the competition and the gala. My sister, who watched figure skating for the first time in her life, was moved by Anna and was really disappointed when she didn't win. So, performance-wise, Anna probably makes a stronger impression. When watching her, you don't think about the elements or the jumps, but just appreciate the program.

And one final thing - the notorious cameraman was right in front of me during the free skate. He attracted my attention, because he was using every possible minute to stretch his legs and relax, sometimes almost looked like taking a nap I found it very weird, because I know how stressful shooting live events is; the team must work like a well-oiled machine. So, wasn't at all surprised when I saw the result of his work. Well, I hope he finds another job.

Overall, loved it and Zagreb is a beautiful city. Today I saw the Gran Prix calendar and am already thinking about Grenoble in November or Torino in December Or both

 

[Jontor]

Sotskova is likely to fall out of the top 24. And Konstantinova is only guaranteed one spot even if she has both a top 24 score and a top 24 ranking.

But someone elsewhere mentioned that it's possible that Radionova and Pogorilaya could possibly qualify for return skater status.

The world ranking list is updated after worlds. http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsladies.htm Sotskova is still ranked 9th and Konstantinova 13th.
Yes if Pogo and/or Radi returns next year it will only complicate things even further...It would be a total of 14 Russian ladies fighting for GP spots.

 

[NaVi]

The world ranking list is updated after worlds. http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsladies.htm Sotskova is still ranked 9th and Konstantinova 13th.
Yes if Pogo and/or Radi returns next year it will only complicate things even further...It would be a total of 14 Russian ladies fighting for GP spots.

Before they do selections for the Grand Prix, they take the 3rd year off and the 2nd year is reduced to 70% of value.

 

[Edwin]

I never found the time to share my experience from JWC in Zagreb.

Glad you had a good time in Zagreb and thanks for your report

Yes, there is quite a contrast between Anna, the fairy turned fierce (samurai) and Aleksandra, the Quadster turned unstoppable and un-toppable (on that cantilever)
Both girls gave their international junior careers a thrilling conclusion at the Gala.

And you are very much right, the camera work was awful many times during the JWC events. I hope ISU will demand a raised standard and proper camera work at the next JGP cycle.