2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[laybackrelaxspinfast]

I really enjoyed Alina’s new program and think it fits her well. I’m sure it will grow in artistry as the season progresses. A few nit picking things that I don’t see much point in calling out as I would just be repeating myself, but it’s progress and I’m proud of her. I can’t wait to see Alena’s and Evgenia’s new programs!

 

[Seruleane]

Love Alina’s new SP! I was worried the music would be annoying, but it is effective and I agree with you all that Alina is looking more expressive and mature! I also wish the Ina Bauer was held longer...she could do it before the 2A and it would be very effective, but I guess the spiral is very nice as well. Love the step sequence as well. Excited to see the rest of the Russian ladies’s programs...next season will be amazing!

 

[flanker]

Do we know the nicknames/monikers (клички) of the A skaters from Khrustalniy?

Alina Zagitova = ?
Alyona Kostornaya = Kostorka I am pretty sure of
Anna Shcherbakova = Shcherbaka? (which sounds awfully close to собака, which means dog, so I suppose not)
Aleksandra Trusova = Trusa? (which is too close to трусики or girl's knickers, so I suppose not)
Alyona Kanysheva = Kanyshek/Kamishek I am pretty sure of

Just for fun ...

In the video for olympic channel Sasha sais that when she is doing well at the training, she is called "Sashulina", when she is not doing well, she is just called "Trusova!"

 

[Edwin]

In the video for olympic channel Sasha sais that when she is doing well at the training, she is called "Sashulina", when she is not doing well, she is just called "Trusova!"

Sashulina is a diminutive only to be used by very close relatives, friends and her boyfriend. If you address Aleksandra that way, you will be frowned upon or she'll turn away giggling.
Alinochka is a condescending because this diminutive is for very young girls, same with Anyushka etc.

Kostorka, Kanyshek, etc. is how the girls address each other when at lunch in the rink's cafetaria: "Kostorka, pass me the salt please?" etc.

 

[flanker]

Sashulina is a diminutive only to be used by very close relatives, friends and her boyfriend. If you address Aleksandra that way, you will be frowned upon or she'll turn away giggling.
Alinochka is a condescending because this diminutive is for very young girls, same with Anyushka etc.

Kostorka, Kanyshek, etc. is how the girls address each other when at lunch in the rink's cafetaria: "Kostorka, pass me the salt please?" etc.

Correction, it's Sashulya, you can hear it from Sasha herself: https://youtu.be/IXIBano6iXw?t=190

 

[Vandevska]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rjaQjpCxD/?igshid=1ne3v6nckynxu

Top 10 most viewed videos from the junior grand prix circuit last year. The fact that Aliona has 6/10 really says something

 

[Edwin]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rjaQjpCxD/?igshid=1ne3v6nckynxu

Top 10 most viewed videos from the junior grand prix circuit last year. The fact that Aliona has 6/10 really says something

Rewatching those clips after the long drought of summer brings back the true Kostorka: effortless speed/flow and innate feeling/musicality. She was the best those years and competitions.
Over the season, you could see her grow into the routine while physically growing as well, culminating in the JGP final (where we know now in hindsight, she was in physical discomfort and pain as well).
Looking very much forwards and with great anticipation to her new programs in a months time at Test Skates. Perhaps there will be some Perviy Kanal teasers beforehand?

But in my mind the timeless masterpiece that was her 2017 SP "Dos Cadencias sobre Adios Nonino" will be the true legacy of Alyona Kostornaya, that SP is still to be bettered.

Short programs often seem just a bit better composed and more thoroughly rehearsed since there is less need to cram in as much elements as possible, allowing the routine to breathe and flow more.
Plus, SP is the qualification to the LP, so it is do or die in closely fought competitions like Russian Nationals and every little detail in SS etc. and resulting GOE counts.

PS: Most of Trusova's clips got knocked out of YT because of copyright strikes.

 

[Edwin]

Correction, it's Sashulya, you can here it from herself: https://youtu.be/IXIBano6iXw?t=190

Thanks. Better than some monikers I can think of.

But bear in mind, not all skaters are necessarily best friends with each other, so using Kostorka etc instead of a first name dimunitive is appropriate, it is still friendly enough without being condescending or keeping a rude 'shouting distance' from your compatriot with whom you have to spend lots of working and leisure hours at the rink.
If you only use the girl's family name at all occasions you imply to keep that distance and do not want to be close at all.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Sasha has accurately captured my mood today!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0tSsOYnzql/?igshid=1ws7a507rd1u6

 

[Vandevska]

I think so far from the 3A, the best choreographed programme was Anna's dream catcher FS. And since the music at the beginning doesn't have a lot of high points it's noticeable how much she feels the music. Also, it's another 0-7 layout programme that's not very well known.

Alena however is truly great exactly at the skating part, truly effortless and beautiful.

 

[Edwin]

I think so far from the 3A, the best choreographed programme was Anna's dream catcher FS. And since the music at the beginning doesn't have a lot of high points it's noticeable how much she feels the music. Also, it's another 0-7 layout programme that's not very well known.

Fully agree on this. It was the ideal program for 'little' Anna, she was at the perfect age to completely convince in Dreamcatcher, another masterpiece in artistry from a child.

It is a while since, but has Anna herself ever explained or commented about Dreamcatcher, and told about her own thoughts, feelings and emotions of performing this program?

 

[esteticlove]

Ah, I think that the "running" part of Alina's program looked a little bit awkward because she lost balance on her knees-on-the-ice movement and had to catch up with the music but I still find the choreo fitting to the music and I'll be looking forward to see the program in every competition in the coming season! And I forgot to mention her huge 3Lutz! The height was massive. Also, it was so cool to see that she finally relies on her intuition and didn't attempt a -3Lo "just because that's what she has to do" when she saw that it might not work.

 

[Alexz]

Pre-season conditioning camp at Novogorsk Olympic base: https://youtu.be/9HMmjI3RZAo

 

[colormyworld240]

Alina looks so much like Stanislava in that dress and makeup.

I do miss that ina bauer too, from the instagram video. They should've kept it with the crescendo in the music.

But I think that step sequence is beautiful.

 

[Edwin]

Pre-season conditioning camp at Novogorsk Olympic base: https://youtu.be/9HMmjI3RZAo

Thanks, another stolen Perviy Kanal feature clip, here is the original: https://www.1tv.ru/-/eyltc

Nice to see the kids being kids, goofing around, laughing, having fun. But serious training too, conditioning, stretching, dancing, strength, stamina, skating. Kostorka looking a little angry with herself, Tursynbayeva not feeling her toes anymore, Trusova doing >6 jumps in a row, Kolesnikov spinning on the rod, Zagitova moving the bodycam around.

In contrast to Davydov's recent feature with CSKA's top junior team, at Khrustalniy they still train with boys, men, girls and women all together in full coherence to the common spirit and goals. Their top group is smaller though and hand picked for excellence.

Novogorsk seems an excellent facility with all amenities. We can suppose the Khrustalniy skaters had a good time there, well spent to reload themselves.

The best team in the world needs to make good use of the best facilities, it will only make them better still.

 

[flanker]

Pre-season conditioning camp at Novogorsk Olympic base: https://youtu.be/9HMmjI3RZAo

Perfect teaser for the next season. And I see that eteri really wants to rule in the dog skating category too

 

[Happy Skates]

I just saw on instagram that someone was claiming they know for sure that Sasha is getting a new sp and Anna is getting a new fp. They said that Sasha said her sp had been done in an interview after the show in Japan, and that they'd seen something about Anna's new fp in a Russian fan page for her. Does anyone happen to have any more info on this? It would definitely be good news if its true.

 

[Edwin]

I just saw on instagram that someone was claiming they know for sure that Sasha is getting a new sp and Anna is getting a new fp. They said that Sasha said her sp had been done in an interview after the show in Japan, and that they'd seen something about Anna's new fp in a Russian fan page for her. Does anyone happen to have any more info on this? It would definitely be good news if its true.

If you just tell us where you saw that, those of us so inclined and fluent in Russian can start digging ...

 

[Happy Skates]

If you just tell us where you saw that, those of us so inclined and fluent in Russian can start digging ...

sashatrusova_team on instagram. In the comments on the latest post .

 

[Edwin]

sashatrusova_team on instagram. In the comments on the latest post .

A person hearing it from another who month ago was reading a message board etc etc. Not very trustworthy sources IMO.

We can sort of expect all of Khrustalniy staff, skaters and their parents/friends etc being under a NDA, otherwise a voluntary code of honour not to let anything slip.
Best follow the authoritative sources instead. Khrustalniy have a reputation to uphold, and maintaining integrity is part of that.
I wouldn't be surprised there is a 'no unauthorised persons in attendance' and 'no phones in hand inside the rink' policy at those closed training sessions.

But of course every one of us wants to be a fly on the wall, don't we?