Thanks for this comment. I‘ve just rewatched her SP because I couldn‘t remember all of it and I have to agree with some points here.
I think the transitions in her SP are some of the better ones.
So, judging by her performance at Worlds:
I really like the turns she does into the 3F. Also, they changed her lutz entry, which I think helped her make the whole jump more stable. And the charlotte into the 2A is the highlight of course. And she‘s so consistent with it now! Last year she was trying to do the same at the beginning of the season but they had to change it. Pretty impressive, considering this is the year after the Olympics and she‘s had to deal with some problems. The Charlotte also goes well with the music. The only thing I wish they would have changed here, is the Ina Bauer. She just doesn‘t hold it long enough and while I get that it was a transition into the final spin, she could have timed it a bit differently. This way it would have matched more with the music too and would have had more of a purpose.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CwW5B9-OJsQ
I can‘t put a timestamp, but it‘s at 2:25 onwards here.
Overall, though, I have to admit that my criticism of the transitions in the SP probably wasn‘t entirely justified. I‘m not talking about music cuts here but that‘s a topic that might not need further discussing. I think, generally, the SP is the better choreographed program of the two, which is ironic, because I enjoy the FS a lot more. But it just has these great moments, like the Charlotte into 2A or the music box spin.
Also, Worlds was definitely Alina‘s best performance of POTO. Before, she always seemed a bit stiff and unnatural, as if she didn‘t quite feel the music. This time, she really impressed me. It seemed genuine and her expressions were more natural. And the end was touching, really fit the with the feeling of the program. I think if she goes from there, allows her personality to shine more on the ice, that would be great. Her step sequence here was a lot better, too. She does have a problem with her posture, she hunches over and her crossovers look laboured. But I quite like her step sequences. (in both programs) She doesn‘t have the deepest edges and not the best skatig skills either but what she does is difficult and she pulls it off pretty well. She seems to take more time there and it‘s easier to recognize her turns. Especially in the SP.
Now: Carmen. So, I‘m gonna say it: I think it‘s a program with a lot of potential. Simply because Daniil tried to make it unusual, like he did with Black Swan as well. (and POTO, too, even though the music cuts were a bit too much for me there) I‘ll take Worlds again because while it wasn‘t her best performance wise, it‘s the most recent one:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dwNerVv9kY
I like the beginning. She seems fierce and cheeky and smiles. And most of all I like, that Alina loves the program. I think you can see it. Which is why the transitions bother me the most in this program. Because I feel like the way the program is constructed, it doesn‘t give her room to breathe, to just enjoy for a moment and get into character. Some examples:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dwNerVv9kY
1:47
The moment after the Charlotte into 2A. It‘s a highlight, a great transition and so difficult. Why is there a need for this leg kicking afterwards? She could have timed the 2A to land directly on the musical accent and it would have had a much better effect. (I think she did that in the beginning of the season but still had the leg kicking thing) Let the moment have its purpose, let her hold the landing. Then, when the music starts to get faster again, she can go on with the choreography. There is simply no need for this transition, it‘s just “there“. The Charlotte is beautiful in itself, it fits the music and definitely should earn high GOE.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dwNerVv9kY
2:44 next
Choreo sequence. I wouldn‘t say it‘s a particularly good one simply because of the fact that it‘s not really memorable. I also don‘t get why there is any need to have this 1 second moves, the short Ina Bauer into the second one that I can‘t name (sorry) It doesn‘t have any purpose and it just looks akward. We all know Alina can hold a Ina Bauer! We have seen her do it beautifully in shows. Why not do it here? Again, there is no significant advantage, she doesn‘t get more points, she just sort of does it because she can. And to me, that‘s not good choreography.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dwNerVv9kY
3:00 next
That was actually the worst transition of the program for me. She just landed that 3Lz-3Lo! It‘s looking great! And suddenly she just pushes her leg back and then pulls it over her head but not completely and holds it there for like one second, then lets go of it again and skates on...? Why? What‘s the purpose of this transition? It doesn‘t match the music, it doesn‘t look particularly pleasing, it adds nothing to the program or the story... Again, one of the two (or none...) would have been entirely sufficient, she would have got the GOE bullet. And it wouldn‘t have looked as busy and forced.
I do like the transition after her final 3F, though. I think it fits, it‘s not too much and there‘s natural flow into the next part of the choreography.
Her step sequence was good! I liked it. Usually, by then she starts to really sell the program which makes it all the more powerful. And even though the step sequence in itself is pretty short, it does seem to me like she takes more time and her turns and steps are pretty clear. In general, I think both of her step sequences are pretty well done. And she never loses levels even if the rest of the program didn’t go well which is really impressive! Same for the spins, btw. I think there was like one spin she didn‘t get level 4 on this season? Who else has a track record like this? I think Alina is the best spinner in the current ladies senior field and her GOE and levels agree with that.
Overall, I think the main problem that I had with Alina‘s program(s) this season was the lack of purpose for some transitions and the missing flow that went with it. I like her as a skater because I think she has lots to give but I feel like these crazy exits sometimes didn‘t show her in the best light. They looked as if she had to put in a lot of effort, and if she had been allowed to just hold the landings a tad longer and then continue with the choreography, it would have seemed more natural.
I might have to explain why I said Alina won despite of her transitions. That wasn‘t well worded and while I don‘t take it back, I‘ll explain what I meant by it:
Rusfed wanted Eteri and co to make her programs easier. Already at the beginning of the season. They didn‘t. And, in hindsight, I think it might have been a smarter thing to do. Alina really was struggling this season, even Eteri admitted it. She was growing up, had to get used to a new body, etc. Her skating just wasn‘t as “easy“ as last year, due to all these changes. So, if you have a skater you know faces some problems, what do you do? Make the programs even busier, even if said skater already is slower, needs to put in more effort? Especially since Alina already had the highest technical content only behind Rika AND a PCS advantage over her. So, yeah, I do feel like this was kind of unnecessary. Less transitions but more focus put on flow and getting used to her new body would have hurt her in no way, on the contrary, I think it would‘ve helped! She actually would have had a better chance to be clean and her scores would have stayed the same/be even higher. If it was to stay in contention with Rika... Well, there‘s the thing: Rika still is inconsistent with the 3As. If she lands them, though, she beats everyone in the current field. Including Alina. The ridiculously difficult transitions didn‘t make any difference here, they only add to the PCS which are very high for Alina anyway. So, if beating Rika was the goal, then staying clean should be the main focus. She can stay in contention easily/beat her when she doesn‘t land all 3 3As (which was most of the time) Because no matter how difficult the transitions could possibly be, if Rika landed those 3 3As, they couldn‘t beat her anyway. If there was even one mistake... well, Alina‘s in the game again.
That being said, it‘s Alina who became World Champion. I‘ve said it multiple times and I will say it again: I admire this girl. As a skater, as a person, as an athlete. And while I have yet to feel touched by her skating, I appreciate certain qualities about her. And I always enjoy watching her, even if her programs sometimes give me headaches.
As for next season: I hope they let Alina choose. She has nothing left to prove, she can skate only for her enjoyment. Of course, if she stays as a competitive skater, she will still try to win (and nothing wrong with that!), but there‘s nothing wrong with experiencing a bit. Give me sassy, rebellious Alina! I loved Survivor-Alina and it would be cool to see something a bit more modern for her. Daniil said they will try an unusual image for her already so let‘s see. I‘m hopeful.
). I also think that all this she came through, while much of it was very unpleasant (injuries, slander, mistrust for her abilities from others and in one moment even from herself), was a valuable experience that had positive impact into Alina's performances. She really understood what is to try hard for something. Not that she wouldn't train hard beforo, but as she herself said, in the previous two seasons most of thins were easy for her, "they said jump, I jumped" or something like that and now she was in the situation when many things didn't go well soon.
