- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
- Thread starter Spirals for Miles
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
It is very early but the Russian test skates were interesting. I do think they should have allowed Maria, Gubanova, Leonova and few others skate as well. Some big notes. EVgenia is still struggling and I am not sold on either sp or lp PLUS she is missing transitions. I agree the double axel, spins and in particular the flying camel need work. And her general skating skills need to have cleaner anedges with more flow. She is almost 20 so this is concerning. But she is a fighter. The 3A's were impressive they looked senior though I do worry about puberty still. They can still skate / compete with Rika K and even Alysa from the US who is a junior. I would sa the 4A's if you include Zagitova and Liza T are the fab five right now. I do hope Evgenia, Maria and Sofia can do something but they don't seem to have the skating skills, artistry or tech to compete.
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2018
Zhenya has so much artistry, and you can see it clearly in this year's programms, she and alena and anna have more artistry than anyone else
I am not sure I’ve ever read any controversy about her artistry until this post, that’s why I am surprised. Yes there are many who didn’t like the mimicking in her Eteri days (and many who did), yes there’s room for improvement regarding some tech stuff, but I’d argue artistry is one thing she doesn’t need to work on at the moment.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2015
I don't think she is behind in SS either. She made improvement this year. Compared to Aliona, Stanislava Konstantinova, and some of the Japanese girls her SS are weak but among the Russian senior ladies they are average or above average. Sasha, Anna, Alina and Liza don't have particularly great SS either. ( Alina improved this year but her posture on the crossovers is still bad). Aliona is the only senior Eteri girl with exceptional SS. ( The Eteri juniors, on the other hand, all have good SS.. although they are less consistent)
Medvedeva is behind on tech, spins, and consistency compared to the Eteri girls... not SS or artistry.
Medvedeva is behind on tech, spins, and consistency compared to the Eteri girls... not SS or artistry.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
They started to sell tickets to Rusnats. Well, they sort of started to sell tickets to Rusnats because there are none for ladies free program, at least for the time being. May be it will be the first Rusnats that I am going to miss since 2015.
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2018
What does it mean? Is "posture on the crossovers" related to SS?
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
But because she doesn’t have the difficult tech right now, just average SS among her peers isn’t going to cut it. If she’s competing against Alina/Aliona for a spot (which she is because all 3 have similar planned tech with about a point difference between them) how is she going to beat them? Both Alina and Aliona have her beat on jump/spin GOE. Alina was beating her on PCS last season, and if scored correctly Aliona would too. Zhenya needs every single point she can get, and without strong SS, high GOE on jumps/spins, and her trademark consistency, it’s going to be tough.
Idk for me Shcherbakova was the best package artistically.
Both programs are very sophisticated, her Firebird is very impressive, one of the most inspired work from that group for sure, she has great posture, she holds her positions, she has the flow, the only thing she needs to improve are the twizzles and the illusions and that's it. The others were all impressive but not as impressive artistically.
Medvedeva i think she has to work a bit more on the steps sequence for the free skate, you can see that music require more of everything, but you have to be realistic: she is going to get big components anyway, while the TES is where she will lose the gold against these girls: jumps, her combos aren't as difficult, and spins aren't as interesting.
Does she still have back injuries? cause the layback spin was a +3 GOE for her, as for the other two really the only thing you could do is work on speed and centering now and maybe some new creative position in the summer.
Both programs are very sophisticated, her Firebird is very impressive, one of the most inspired work from that group for sure, she has great posture, she holds her positions, she has the flow, the only thing she needs to improve are the twizzles and the illusions and that's it. The others were all impressive but not as impressive artistically.
Medvedeva i think she has to work a bit more on the steps sequence for the free skate, you can see that music require more of everything, but you have to be realistic: she is going to get big components anyway, while the TES is where she will lose the gold against these girls: jumps, her combos aren't as difficult, and spins aren't as interesting.
Does she still have back injuries? cause the layback spin was a +3 GOE for her, as for the other two really the only thing you could do is work on speed and centering now and maybe some new creative position in the summer.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2015
I agree with your post. I just did not agree with the previous poster who said her artistry and SS were worse than the other girls.
Her spins are worse than the Eteri girls and her tech is similar to Alina and Aliona. She will need to improve her spins, SS, tech and consistency to compete. I just disagree with the poster who said her artistry and SS are worse. ( only Aliona is definitely better)
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2015
Yes, she still has back problems.
I think Anna really needs to improve her SS, too.They aren't very good and it is very noticeable during her step sequence. But, I do like Anna's long program and I am not usually a fan of Daniil G's choreo. It is pretty effective. I was less impressed with the short. I also find some of her jumps muscled.
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2019
Remember 2014 Sochi, or in gymnastics the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?
You need to have nerves of steel to block out those loud 'home team' spectators, sometimes actively disturbing other contestants in their preparations.
How does one prepare for this abrupt change of scene, from a quiet training hall into a cauldron of noise, light and general madness everywhere you look?
Most athletes seem to try to cocoon themselves with iPods, headphones, etc. Perhaps playing their favourite music at the highest level to drown out the noise? Doesn't seem to be very effective in concentrating, unless you play hardstyle or something to rile yourself up?
The atmosphere at the Open Test Skates will be a test, since most FS event are a rather bucolic/pastoral, even sedate affair, if there even turns up a large crowd of spectators at all.
Chelyabinsk JGP will probably be sold out, Krasnoyarsk National Championships will sell out within days, perhaps even hours if those fan groups buy whole blocks of seats.
Interestingly enough Billie Eilish was in Moscow yesterday, did she accept Daniil Gleichengauz's invite or was she there only as guest for the Urgant show? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3QbJlDpmZw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3QbJlDpmZw
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2017
Interestingly enough Billie Eilish was in Moscow yesterday, did she accept Daniil Gleichengauz's invite or was she there only as guest for the Urgant show?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3QbJlDpmZw
I don't understand this attempt at a joke. And the problem was with another choreographer, not Billie.
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2019
Interestingly enough Billie Eilish was in Moscow yesterday, did she accept Daniil Gleichengauz's invite or was she there only as guest for the Urgant show?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3QbJlDpmZw
Was she stoned or something during the whole 'interview'? Urgant probably has a reasonable command over English, she obviously none over Russian, so these 'interviews' hardly ever work out with an interpreter in between.
I am definitely too old for this kind of 'entertainment'.
I totally agree with Skater Boy here. I was honestly shocked at how bad Evgenia's SS are (or rather: I always was, but now I'm shocked that she still hasn't gotten better).
I have no idea where people see improvement, I guess it's just wishful thinking or based on reputation since she's with Orser now. Her crossovers are atrocious (still looking like a pecking bird), her edges are often unclear and her turns are laboured and lack flow. Just look at the jerky way she swings her free leg around to propel herself across the ice, it looks horrible. Some of her twizzles also look jerky and she's bobbing too much up and down.
I guess her speed might have improved, not sure, I've never followed her closely and it's impossible to tell from a video anyway.
I also don't see any wonderful artistry in her skating. I can definitely see that she's making an effort, I just don't feel that the execution is that convincing.
One part of her SP that stood out to me in particular, was the second half of her step sequence.
The music is very slow and peaceful, but we see her doing a fast twizzle, an illusion, some sort of a hectic exit, a few steps later a frantic outside loop followed by an equally jerky looking pivot. She doesn't capture the calmness and gentle mood of the music at all.
Part of it is the choreographer's fault of course. But she could certainly take her time to prolong the loop and pivot, make them slow and controlled instead of rushing them so much. Add a delay to the twizzle and find another spot for the illusion, if it absolutely needs to be there to check off the body moves level requirement (pretty sure she could do something else though and still get it).
I have no idea where people see improvement, I guess it's just wishful thinking or based on reputation since she's with Orser now. Her crossovers are atrocious (still looking like a pecking bird), her edges are often unclear and her turns are laboured and lack flow. Just look at the jerky way she swings her free leg around to propel herself across the ice, it looks horrible. Some of her twizzles also look jerky and she's bobbing too much up and down.
I guess her speed might have improved, not sure, I've never followed her closely and it's impossible to tell from a video anyway.
I also don't see any wonderful artistry in her skating. I can definitely see that she's making an effort, I just don't feel that the execution is that convincing.
One part of her SP that stood out to me in particular, was the second half of her step sequence.
The music is very slow and peaceful, but we see her doing a fast twizzle, an illusion, some sort of a hectic exit, a few steps later a frantic outside loop followed by an equally jerky looking pivot. She doesn't capture the calmness and gentle mood of the music at all.
Part of it is the choreographer's fault of course. But she could certainly take her time to prolong the loop and pivot, make them slow and controlled instead of rushing them so much. Add a delay to the twizzle and find another spot for the illusion, if it absolutely needs to be there to check off the body moves level requirement (pretty sure she could do something else though and still get it).
Who is better: Alina or Nathan? :think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee8HneNyUw0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee8HneNyUw0
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2019
Full marks, this is so funny, absolutely love the humour in it !!!
... and the effort that went in creating this montage ...
Alina and Nathan, not only a cute couple together, but also the best ambassadors for their sport
We'll be going to seen them together already soon: https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/japanopen2019/index.html but on different teams during the competition.
But no doubt there will be charming photographs from the banquet with both of them.
Wonder if by then both Alina and Nathan have watched this? And repeat it on Instagram Live??
