2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Jontor]

Do we know who will be there already? All skaters who got a GP event? Or only those on the Senior National Team/Reserve team? Both? Sorry if the question was already asked. Anyway, the week has finally come. So excited to see all the girls skate again this weekend.

Probably all 10 ladies with GP events will be there. But I am wondering if they will invite Gubanova as well? I don't think it will happen, but she is on the Reserve Team after all...and if someone messes up completely (*cough* *cough* Sotskova *cough*) they might reconsider the GP assignments?!?

 

[Fluture]

I guess they are obliged to participate to that joke called test skates but I would preferred they didn’t.

Aren‘t you feeling well or something? I‘ve not yet heard of a Russian figure skating ladies fan who doesn‘t look forward to seeing the girls at test skates but I guess there will be a first case for everything. I hope you won‘t suffer too much reading all the posts by people being so excited about that “joke called test skates“.

 

[Fluture]

Probably all 10 ladies with GP events will be there. But I am wondering if they will invite Gubanova as well? I don't think it will happen, but she is on the Reserve Team after all...and if someone messes up completely (*cough* *cough* Sotskova *cough*) they might reconsider the GP assignments?!?

I would think they‘d at least invite Gubanova but who knows. She‘s on the reserve team after all. But then again, she sure hasn‘t made herself popular with her recent actions, I guess... I do think she would deserve to be invited, though.

I‘m not a particularly big fan of Maria but I‘d say don‘t underestimate her before she‘s skated. Last season was bad but maybe she‘ll thrive under her new coaching team? Who knows. And I‘m not sure they‘d reconsider GP assignments - this is not the JGP, they can‘t change them whenever they want, it‘s a bit more complicated than that.

 

[ruga]

Probably all 10 ladies with GP events will be there. But I am wondering if they will invite Gubanova as well? I don't think it will happen, but she is on the Reserve Team after all...and if someone messes up completely (*cough* *cough* Sotskova *cough*) they might reconsider the GP assignments?!?

They can't really "reconsider". It's different from JGP where countries get spots and can put any skaters they want. In GP RusFed can only decide Rostelecom. The rest are decided by local feds who pick from SB, WR lists and Worlds results. None of the skaters who have been assigned can be replaced unless they themselves withdraw from competition.

 

[Jontor]

I would think they‘d at least invite Gubanova but who knows. She‘s on the reserve team after all. But then again, she sure hasn‘t made herself popular with her recent actions, I guess... I do think she would deserve to be invited, though.

I‘m not a particularly big fan of Maria but I‘d say don‘t underestimate her before she‘s skated. Last season was bad but maybe she‘ll thrive under her new coaching team? Who knows. And I‘m not sure they‘d reconsider GP assignments - this is not the JGP, they can‘t change them whenever they want, it‘s a bit more complicated than that.

I checked last year. They didn't invite Sakhanovich and Pogorilaya who was on the Reserve Team, so I guess there will be no Gubanova...hwell:

 

[Jontor]

They can't really "reconsider". It's different from JGP where countries get spots and can put any skaters they want. In GP RusFed can only decide Rostelecom. The rest are decided by local feds who pick from SB, WR lists and Worlds results. None of the skaters who have been assigned can be replaced unless they themselves withdraw from competition.

Perhaps RusFed has the power of persuasion and can make someone withdraw...

 

[el henry]

Perhaps RusFed has the power of persuasion and can make someone withdraw...

Even if they do, the host fed can replace a withdrawn skater with a skater from another country. The host fed invited the skater, the Russian Fed did not select her (except of course where Russia is the host fed). The host fed can then replace as they see fit.

As there is no requirement to replace one Russian skater with another Russian skater, I don't know where it is in RusFed's interest to influence a withdrawal. :scratch:

 

[ruga]

Perhaps RusFed has the power of persuasion and can make someone withdraw...

They won't really do that. They didn't do it last year when Panenkova and Tsurskaya delivered pretty disappointing skates. So unless there is some unknown senior eligible girl of Sasha-Anna-Aliona caliber, no one will take away GP spots.

Also the federations are under no obligation to replace the withdrawn skater with someone from the same country. It could be just a waste of a GP spot.

 

[nussnacker]

They won't really do that. They didn't do it last year when Panenkova and Tsurskaya delivered pretty disappointing skates. So unless there is some unknown senior eligible girl of Sasha-Anna-Aliona caliber, no one will take away GP spots.

To be fair, Panenkova was actually one of the only people, who skated clean at test skates.

 

[Happy Skates]

To be fair, Panenkova was actually one of the only people, who skated clean at test skates.

This will need to be reminded to people next week if someone has a meltdown at test skates (remember Zagitova and Medvedeva's tough performances last year? and then they both ended up on the world podium)

 

[Jontor]

They won't really do that. They didn't do it last year when Panenkova and Tsurskaya delivered pretty disappointing skates. So unless there is some unknown senior eligible girl of Sasha-Anna-Aliona caliber, no one will take away GP spots.

Also the federations are under no obligation to replace the withdrawn skater with someone from the same country. It could be just a waste of a GP spot.

Yes, but last year they replaced Radionova with Leonova at NHK Trophy. It might have been that Leonova was next in line in the SB list, but if so, the next in line this year without a GP is undoubtedly Gubanova.

 

[nussnacker]

This will need to be reminded to people next week if someone has a meltdown at test skates (remember Zagitova and Medvedeva's tough performances last year? and then they both ended up on the world podium)

True :agree2: I hope we won't see "this skater is done", "career is finished", "the puberty killed their jumps" kinds of comments because of the test skates.
But who am I kidding

 

[LRK]

It may be easier to replace a skater from the same country because of travel arrangements &c. However… a hosting federation may choose not to replace at all. It often happens that a skater WDs, and we end up with a smaller field as a consequence. That's always such a pity when that happens.

 

[Scott512]

I would think they‘d at least invite Gubanova but who knows. She‘s on the reserve team after all. But then again, she sure hasn‘t made herself popular with her recent actions, I guess... I do think she would deserve to be invited, though.

I‘m not a particularly big fan of Maria but I‘d say don‘t underestimate her before she‘s skated. Last season was bad but maybe she‘ll thrive under her new coaching team? Who knows. And I‘m not sure they‘d reconsider GP assignments - this is not the JGP, they can‘t change them whenever they want, it‘s a bit more complicated than that.

Actions? You mean her foolish 15 year old words from a year-and-a-half ago that didn't mean anything to anyone at that time? Getting bounced by Buyanova is dubious because of the disastrous results the coach had with Elena Masha and Polina. Nastyas skating was certainly better than those three were last year for that coach but let's be honest the coach just doesn't have it anymore. Her terrible results speak for themselves. It's shocking but that's sports.

I just hope Anastasias new programs are ready soon and now she's happy in St Petersburg and that shows in her skating. I have course hope she's at test skates she of course deserves to be but probably won't be. I know I'll never really understand why they even put the girl on the national team this year as a reserve. It makes no sense when you figure out what's happened since then.

 

[ec00834]

After what we've seen of Alysa this weekend, I'm very worried for Ksenia and Maya at JGP Gdansk. If both Alysa and Ksenia skate clean in the SP, I think Ksenia will have a slight advantage. Ksenia also has a 3lz-3lo and 3lz-3t in the free but I don't think that's enough to beat Alysa (if the judges ignore her URs).

 

[Skater Boy]

After what we've seen of Alysa this weekend, I'm very worried for Ksenia and Maya at JGP Gdansk. If both Alysa and Ksenia skate clean in the SP, I think Ksenia will have a slight advantage. Ksenia also has a 3lz-3lo and 3lz-3t in the free but I don't think that's enough to beat Alysa (if the judges ignore her URs).

I think it is a forgone conclusion Alysa is the next great one, the long awaited American princess so to speak. She has the jumps and is improving her artistry. This batch of Russian ladies don't seem to have the arsenal or musicality to beat Liu. I think what we really are waiting to see how the 3A's do as seniors. I am still curious about Leonova. Did she get a GP? I miss her. Kind of sad such Russian talent that we don't really hear or see her = like she is in Siberia or something?

 

[colormyworld240]

Russia's Fantastic Four. Gorgeous pics with Alina, Alena, Anna and Alexandra
https://m.vk.com/wall-64888695_895604

Sasha looks like she grew quite a bit. But that could just be that she's in the foreground but the others are in the back. She does look a lot close to Alina in height.

 

[mathlike]

Seems like lack of judges influences positively skaters performances:
https://www.1tv.ru/shows/lednikovyy-period-deti

 

[colormyworld240]

I think it is a forgone conclusion Alysa is the next great one, the long awaited American princess so to speak. She has the jumps and is improving her artistry. This batch of Russian ladies don't seem to have the arsenal or musicality to beat Liu. I think what we really are waiting to see how the 3A's do as seniors. I am still curious about Leonova. Did she get a GP? I miss her. Kind of sad such Russian talent that we don't really hear or see her = like she is in Siberia or something?

Kamila has more than enough musicality and skating skills. She's like the combination of Anna and Alena with the additions of a stable quad and better spins and none of the edge issues. Her quad also has the power of Sasha's with better speed and flow. I'd say she's the closest to the full package, with some imperfections like her rhythm in jump combos and sometimes wonky Lz/F air position (but that's much improved from last season).

 

[Scott512]

I think it is a forgone conclusion Alysa is the next great one, the long awaited American princess so to speak. She has the jumps and is improving her artistry. This batch of Russian ladies don't seem to have the arsenal or musicality to beat Liu. I think what we really are waiting to see how the 3A's do as seniors. I am still curious about Leonova. Did she get a GP? I miss her. Kind of sad such Russian talent that we don't really hear or see her = like she is in Siberia or something?

Agreed. They are all chasing Alysa. And Kamila as well. Liu is very promising but is not flawless so she can be beaten. Liu is so tiny and so light that when she falls she really is punishing her tiny body. She will do big things in figure skating for America and Valieva well be very special as well and do big things as long as she remains healthy. The problem is in Russia and the competition is so insanely tough that they can never really relax. Alysa will have a free ride for years in the United States figure skating world due to a lack of elite competition such as Russia's are among the ladies.