2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[andromache]

Well, I can't say I agree with the result between Nastya and Viktoria. And now Nastya has no realistic shot at the final, despite only one serious error between four programs on the JGP. I don't want to stir up a bunch of scoring drama again, but I do find it sad that she is in this situation despite such a beautiful skate today, and her first time doing two clean programs in a while.

Even if she's slightly underscored, I still think her placements have been right at her events. She just got unlucky with her events. The entire junior ladies field is soooooooo deep right now, and she ended up at two of the toughest events. I'm also pretty sad, because her skating skills and jumps are really incredible. I could understand putting her and Viktoria in either order - both were excellent. I can't really pick who I prefer more, honestly. I think Viktoria might just be slightly more polished?

Looks like the finals are likely to be

Valieva
Liu
Vasilieva (who I am a new fan of!!!)
Usacheva (as long as she is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Haein (as long as she is is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Sinitsyna (clear path to victory in Italy - I think she has had the easiest route to the final, with no real competition in Italy unless I am forgetting someone)

Since Frolova is in both of the next two events, she can play spoiler if someone bombs. Which would be unfortunate, since Tarakanova is a better skater.

 

[VenusHalley]

Well I don't agree with you on the facial expression thing, I saw a great improvement on facial expressions here, with expression beyond being nervous (and imo most of the ladies tonight didn't have the best expression) But beyond that, skating skills and transitions are a huge part of PCS. And sorry but Nastya had the best speed and flow tonight. Especially directly compared to Vika, who is the person most people are comparing her with. In fact, Vika got roughly two points more than her in PCS, costing her a shot at the final. You think thats fair?

Compared to Vika, I guess I prefer Nastya (though i liked her much more last year). But I don't think there is a way she could get over 130.

 

[Tolstoj]

What the heck is up with Nastya's scores? I am close to being offended by now. She even improved her facial expression. Her skating skills were great! I would have given her over 130 for sure!

Idk i'm always suspicious on these things, so maybe they thought Vasilieva has higher chances to qualify for GPF since she did better in the first event.

For me i noticed maybe slightly more speed from Vasilieva and more expression throughout the footwork sequence but Tarakanova had a much more difficult program technically with a 3ltz-1lo-3s as the last jumping element, after the steps sequence, and with a very difficult cantilever entry: that was a +3 at least for me.

 

[nussnacker]

Tarakanova's dodgy scores reminds me of the situation of another Nastya...

Thought the same thing...
how a skater of her quality gets scores THIS low is just way too surprising.
My poor girl, I hope she doesn’t get demotivated by this underscoring trend.

 

[Fluture]

Compared to Vika, I guess I prefer Nastya (though i liked her much more last year). But I don't think there is a way she could get over 130.

I don't think so either. 130 is a lot and her programs just aren't that good this season, even if she did improve between her two events. Imo, her scores have been right at her two events. (maybe a bit underscored in skating skills) but I just don't understand Viktoria's score in comparison to Tarakanova's. It's tough because those two were so close in their standings. And maybe I'm a bit biased as well because I really loved Nastya's skating the past few years (this year's program's just aren't my cup of tea) and Vasilieva always has and continues to do nothing for me personally.

 

[Happy Skates]

Even if she's slightly underscored, I still think her placements have been right at her events. She just got unlucky with her events. The entire junior ladies field is soooooooo deep right now, and she ended up at two of the toughest events. I'm also pretty sad, because her skating skills and jumps are really incredible. I could understand putting her and Viktoria in either order - both were excellent. I can't really pick who I prefer more, honestly. I think Viktoria might just be slightly more polished?

Looks like the finals are likely to be

Valieva
Liu
Vasilieva (who I am a new fan of!!!)
Usacheva (as long as she is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Haein (as long as she is is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Sinitsyna (clear path to victory in Italy - I think she has had the easiest route to the final, with no real competition in Italy unless I am forgetting someone)

Since Frolova is in both of the next two events, she can play spoiler if someone bombs. Which would be unfortunate, since Tarakanova is a better skater.

Don't forget about YeonJeon Park (sorry if I mispelled her name I'm going off of memory) who already has a second place and will be competing in Italy IIRC. She seemed quite consistent at her last event, and if everyone goes clean they could end up putting her above Frolova who will be making her JGP debut this season. Also, assuming Frolova gets third in Croatia, its likely that one of either Park or Frolova gets at least second in Italy, making it very possible that one of them will bump Vika from the final. But it will be very interesting indeed. I'm so hoping that Usacheva and Sinitsyna make it through just fine.

 

[DenissVFan]

So sad for Nastya But I still predict that she may be better in seniors than she was in juniors. Her technique is likely to last.

 

[randomfan]

Looks like the finals are likely to be

Valieva
Liu
Vasilieva (who I am a new fan of!!!)
Usacheva (as long as she is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Haein (as long as she is is 1 or 2 in Croatia)
Sinitsyna (clear path to victory in Italy - I think she has had the easiest route to the final, with no real competition in Italy unless I am forgetting someone)

A bronze for Daria Usacheva and Haein Lee will be enough as well. Maybe even 4th for Haein, because that would still put her over Vasilieva.

 

[colormyworld240]

Fact is, if Anna never lands the 4Lz again, she probably doesn't deserve to make the World team over all the other girls (let's assume that everyone else skates relatively clean all season long).

Fact for who? Because imo, she deserves to make the World Team over everyone except Sasha, without the 4Lz. She still does one of the most difficult layouts without it and she should be much higher than everyone else in PE/IN.

 

[Colonel Green]

Haein (as long as she is is 1 or 2 in Croatia)

Lee just needs to be third to guarantee a spot (since four of the gold medals went to Kamila and Alysa, having one of the remaining three is a pretty safe ticket), and even fourth would still be a reasonable prospect. It's actually rather hard for a gold medalist to miss the Final unless they totally bomb.

 

[VenusHalley]

Fact for who? Because imo, she deserves to make the World Team over everyone except Sasha, without the 4Lz. She still does one of the most difficult layouts without it and she should be much higher than everyone else in PE/IN.

If she falls on 4Lz each and everytime, she will get lower TES than ALina and possibly Alena, I think. -5 GOE, deduction and fall puts caps on PCS. Plus, if she falls in every LP, it may cost her a reputation.

Not saying she will never land it, but since the scenario of Anna spending the rest of the season splatting on her 4Lz has brought up....

 

[Jontor]

Congratulations to Vasilieva and Tarakanova for silver and bronze.:luv17:

Nastya was fantastic but I actually preferred Vika today. I never have been one of her greatest fans but today she won me over. She was on fire! Everything looked super polished and clean.

In hindsight it would have been better to put Frolova here instead of making Vika and Nastya knock each other out. But I guess they keep Frolova to the last minute in case of Kanysheva making comeback?

Vika is not clear for JGPF yet. There are still four big contenders in Sinitsyna, Usacheva, Park and Lee.

 

[zounger]

If she falls on 4Lz each and everytime, she will get lower TES than ALina and possibly Alena, I think. -5 GOE, deduction and fall puts caps on PCS. Plus, if she falls in every LP, it may cost her a reputation.

Not saying she will never land it, but since the scenario of Anna spending the rest of the season splatting on her 4Lz has brought up....

This also assumes that everyone else is going clean all the time and still doesn't become a fact. Since each competition should be judged independently and not looking back if you fell in previous competitions.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

It was very close between Vikochka and Nastya. I don't want to immediately say the judging was unfair. I did think that Nastya performed much better, and I simply don't agree with Vikochka getting a higher transition score than Nastya. That is just inaccurate (my opinion). I do think Nastya should have gotten higher PCS in this competition *period*.

But I do think skate order had a lot to do with Vikochka scoring higher than Nastya. Maybe the judges were more ready to give out higher PCS.

 

[Edwin]

So sad for Nastya But I still predict that she may be better in seniors than she was in juniors. Her technique is likely to last.

Agreed, she hardly looks like a junior anyway, big and powerful, with real athlete's legs ;-)

Her expressions and sort of indifference towards her outwards appearance need to be improved IMO for her to be really competitive among the 'artistic' skaters. I am afraid that will be a most difficult task for both Anastasiya and her trainers, 'unlearning' something ... I have the impression she is a very strong and determined character that doesn't like to be bossed around, so she will need to be lured into making these changes to herself.

I would assume this year's junior programs of Anastasiya were sort of 'stop gap' measures, since she hasn't been with Snow Leopards for very long. It's difficult to figure out if she is granted all the amenities of a full stipend or still has to pay for 'extras' out of her own pocket.

I like the classy plain and simple dress that goes with her hair colour. No garish 'Frida' dress sense for this older junior girl.

 

[andromache]

If she falls on 4Lz each and everytime, she will get lower TES than ALina and possibly Alena, I think. -5 GOE, deduction and fall puts caps on PCS. Plus, if she falls in every LP, it may cost her a reputation.

Not saying she will never land it, but since the scenario of Anna spending the rest of the season splatting on her 4Lz has brought up....

I agree with this. I DO NOT THINK SHE WILL BE THAT INCONSISTENT ON THE 4LZ, but someone else brought up the scenario.

If everyone is clean all season, the World team would be Alina, Anna, and Sasha. But with a hypothetical fall on the 4Lz all season long, either Alena or Liza or both would be likely to surpass Anna (if they are clean all the time).

This hypothesis is not based on my own personal judging of the ladies and their abilities, but on how I think the judges would be likely to evaluate them.

 

[Edwin]

Tomorrow a big day in Russian female figure skating again. First stage of the Russian Cup with this peculiar mix of young aspiring prospects still holding KMS rank and established Masters of Sport wanting to earn some international assignments.

 

[zounger]

This hypothesis is not based on my own personal judging of the ladies and their abilities, but on how I think the judges would be likely to evaluate them.

In this kind of thinking it doesn't matter how judges will evaluate them but RusFed and we will be surprised.

 

[Jontor]

A bronze for Daria Usacheva and Haein Lee will be enough as well. Maybe even 4th for Haein, because that would still put her over Vasilieva.

A bronze probably won't be enough for Daria to knock out Vasilieva. She would need to score over 200 for that. They would have 2+3 in placings both and Vasilieva has scored 196+199.

 

[andromache]

In this kind of thinking it doesn't matter how judges will evaluate them but RusFed and we will be surprised.

Rusfed is going to support whoever they think the international judges will prefer. They want to sweep that Worlds podium, and they will pick the team that is most likely to do that.

Then again, there could be some crazy politicking, so who knows. Just have to wait and see.