2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Vandevska]

Yes, saying someone has an unflattering dress is a "fact." Sure.



Maybe



To make it simple I'll just sum up your (along with many other regular posters in this thread) thoughts, so we don't have to have these conversations about Zhenya anymore

Negative opinion about Zhenya = fact
Negative opinion about any other skater = hateful, rude, conspiracy, completely false

Zhenya = not popular
every other skater = popular

Zhenya fans = not real, staged
fans of every other skater = real

Zhenya = bad
every other skater = good

I hope to not see you complaining about people being unfair to your favorite skater in the future considering your unfairness and piling on

[emoji122] [emoji122] [emoji122]

 

[Mishaminion]

It can be very hard for fans to watch a skater they love struggle, I wouldn't want to watch her Skate Canada SP again because it was heartbreaking to see her face when it was over.

 

[Edwin]

"It makes little sense to remain in such company without complicating your own program." Kostomarov - about the prospects of Zagitova

According to the Olympic champion, Zagitova needs new jumps for victories, and the ban on quadruples in the short must be lifted.

In the upcoming weekend, the third stage of the Figure Skating Grand Prix will take place in France, at which World Champion Alina Zagitova and the winner of last season's junior Grand Prix Alyona Kostornaya will start to compete.
After convincing performances by Anna Shcherbakova and especially Aleksandra Trusova, it seems that nobody will be able to challenge them this season.
Sport Ekspress asked Olympic Champion and two-time world champion in ice dancing, Roman Kostomarov about the chances of Zagitova, and also learned about his aesthetic rejection of the French couple Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Sizeron.

I left after the Olympics, as I should.

- After winning the Olympics Alina Zagitova said she would not complicate her program. Is it realistic for her to fight in this case with Trusova, Shcherbakova, Kostornaya?

RK: Right now, it will be hard for everyone to fight with them if they execute their program cleanly. Even Alina Zagitova. It is clear that she will receive high second marks, but she only has triple jumps. Although here it is necessary to make a reservation that it all depends on skating - whoever copes best with nerves will win. Alina needs to do everything as cleanly as possible, then you can somehow hang on. But if everything goes like it did in Skate Canada, where Trusova comes out and sets a world record, if these young girls jump two or three quads, triple axels, then it will be difficult for her to fight without jumping the same way.

- After your victory at the Olympics, you completed your career ...

RK: That's why I did it. How to do it. (laughs) In order not to lose to the new generation. After all, everything is changing very quickly, becoming more complicated. You always have a chance to win, you use it, you win the Olympics, but then you should not think that everything will stay the same. Yes, there are such instances as Chania, he remains at the highest level of complexity. May go on. But if you, after winning the Olympics, continue to skate, knowing about new girls who jump up to four quadruples in the free program, then it makes no sense to stay in sports - without complicating your program, without jumping quadruples. Very little point.

- Let’s ask directly then - after all, Alina should have left, how was it in your time?

RK: This is Alina’s decision. They probably communicate with the coach, discuss. They are all in one group, Alina sees how girls skate, she probably should understand, weigh her strength. Since they decided to stay, they are counting on something. It’s hard for me to say what, when there are such youths. Alina Zagitova is also a young girl, of course, but she sees what her group mates are doing. And this is not an accidental quadruple in training, but competition! And all this before your very eyes. So even if you do 3 + 3 cascades, sprinkled with Lutz,it's not competitive. A cascade is needed only with a quadruple.

- But she has the right to skate this season for her pleasure?

RK: Sure! What's the problem? It this is her desire, let her skate. Nobody will take her titles. She is a great person, already in history. She does not bother anyone. Anyway, there will be a Russian championship, at which there will be a selection, it will be clear who will go further with the national team, who will not.

Ban on quadruples in the short program - nonsense

- And how do you like the whole discussion about quadruple jumps? Someone says, it is necessary to cancel the ban in the short, someone - on the contrary, let's ban everything and long live the mature female.

RK: Nothing needs to be prohibited. And in the short it is necessary to cancel the ban, to allow quadruples. Sport is about the highest achievements - faster, higher, stronger. This is the development that everyone has always striven for. Complication, improved skating, total. We don't practice ballroom dancing. It's great, cool, there are jumps that get complicated. So figure skating is progressing. And why is it slowing down if people go forward? Rave. It turns out that we adapt to those who jump only triplets and in order not to offend them, we limit the rest. How's that? You can do a triple Axel, but not quadruple? This is absurd.

- I cannot but ask you as a dancer: how do you like the Papadakis / Sizeron pair, which starts this season in France? Is there a reputation effect in their victories, are our Sinitsin and Katsalapov and the rest really at such a distance, as is estimated?

RK: They skate great, I agree, I can't say anything otherwise. But as a couple I just don’t like them. This is "ambiguous" skating, which I do not welcome. Sizeron is still the partner and should be the man. And he, it isn't clear - either the male, or the female partner. Great skating, yes. But there is also Virtue / Moir from Canada - they are a couple, really. There is a man and there is a girl, real dances. (...)
Therefore, aesthetically, of course, I prefer our Vika with Nikita. I think this year they will come closer, there will not be such a gap. By the Olympics they will step on their heels so they'll compete in Beijing.
-----
From: https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...v-grenoble-mnenie-romana-kostomarova-1604948/

 

[Pippuripihvi]

omg this thread has become "What do yellow press and some random people think of Russian Ladies' Figire Skating". Would it make sense for those who enjoy this kind of reading to have a separate thread? It seems to me that those engaged are good at sourcing links and articles and discussing them so it shouldn't be too much trouble to have a dedicated thread for that. This way those interested can engage there and those who can't stand it will safely engage in a different type of discussion here.

 

[Vandevska]

omg this thread has become "What do yellow press and other random people think of Russian Ladies' Figire Skating". Would it make sense for those who enjoy this kind of reading to have a separate thread? It seems to me that those engaged are good at sourcing links and articles and discussing them so it shouldn't be too much trouble to have a dedicated thread for that. This way those interested can engage there and those who can't stand it will safely engage in a different type of discussion here.

Numerous please have been made for a separate thread and yet....

 

[Pippuripihvi]

Just to reiterate. It's one thing to post a link to an official interview from a skater, her coach or parent, and a completely different thing to post some link to a random youtube channel where a random dude rants through the videos and then fake pretends to being a judge and gives marks and eveything. Let's be competent in what we post and what we consider a credible source of information.

 

[Edwin]

Kostornaya - about Tutberidze: “I have never met a stronger person. Any athlete in our group would like to be the same.”

Russian skater Alena Kostornaya spoke about training in the group of Eteri Tutberidze:

“We can have fun and fool around in training, but we're not going anywhere because we know why we came here and what there is for to do for us.

All coaches are joking, it is considered absolutely normal. And in training you can be encouraged by this, and outside of training they can also say something, when you can calmly laugh.

Sergey Viktorovich (Dudakov) is focused on training and tries to help everyone right away, but in life he is quite a cheerful and positive person.

Daniil Markovich (Gleikhengauz) can be fun, joke with you and cheer, but can also scold quite a lot. He isn't a person who scolds today, praises tomorrow - he will tell you right away how you work.

When Eteri Georgiyevna comes on the ice - maximum concentration, maximum effort. Her desire is to make her athletes the best. And in life, this is a woman who has experienced a lot, coped with all the difficulties. It seems to me that I have never met a stronger person both in spirit and physically.

Any athlete from our group would like to grow into the same person as Eteri Georgiyevna in the future. We try to do better, try to do more, because we understand this is both our life and the life of our trainers.

If you do not care what will happen to you, at least think about how much time and effort the coaches have put into you in order to mould you into what you are now at least.

We are called Students of Tutberidze. This is also a kind of title. Because not every athlete can get here, not everyone can train here.

You must believe in yourself, especially in those moments when no one believes in you. There was this moment before my transition to Eteri Georgiyevna: I have never been on the podium of major tournaments, and they always told me that I won’t get there, I was behind the top ten, I was only average.

And at that moment I realised: I can, I want to win. Then I went to Eteri Georgiyevna and proved to many that I can change in everything,” Kostornaya said
------
Excerpts from today's 1TV feature: https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1079650495.html

 

[voolfee]

Negative opinion about Zhenya = fact
Negative opinion about any other skater = hateful, rude, conspiracy, completely false

No, you are not right. I see in this thread only:

Negative opinion about Zhenya = hateful, rude, conspiracy, completely false

 

[Jontor]

omg this thread has become "What do yellow press and some random people think of Russian Ladies' Figire Skating". Would it make sense for those who enjoy this kind of reading to have a separate thread? It seems to me that those engaged are good at sourcing links and articles and discussing them so it shouldn't be too much trouble to have a dedicated thread for that. This way those interested can engage there and those who can't stand it will safely engage in a different type of discussion here.

I think this type of press suits this thread perfectly. This is the Russian Ladies Thread so Russian media is a part of that to understand what the Russian Ladies have to go through mediawise. Like in any general thread there are bound to be things that is not always of interest for all, I just scroll down when that happens to me.

 

[Edwin]

Just to reiterate. It's one thing to post a link to an official interview from a skater, her coach or parent, and a completely different thing to post some link to a random youtube channel where a random dude rants through the videos and then fake pretends to being a judge and gives marks and eveything. Let's be competent in what we post and what we consider a credible source of information.

There are many Youtube channels to avoid, TSL, Rodina, where it is mostly ranting, opinionating, instead of informing with a reasonable amount of objectivity.

Plus those few other Russian channels will ill intent (like reposting live IG streams), which seem to have quieted down since most skaters are now aware of the misery that can befall them.

 

[Mishaminion]

There are many Youtube channels to avoid, TSL, Rodina, where it is mostly ranting, opinionating, instead of informing with a reasonable amount of objectivity.

Plus those few other Russian channels will ill intent (like reposting live IG streams), which seem to have quieted down since most skaters are now aware of the misery that can befall them.

I have watched TSL a few times and I was astonished how little those two actually know. Their videos are full of BS speculation that they repeat time and time again without a shred of evidence to back any of it up.
Their biased opinions are equally annoying, it is clear they don't even try to be objective.

 

[katymay]

I wonder if Kostornaya feels a special pressure because Trusova and Shcerbakova have already won their assignments. I think Kostornaya will also win, but it will be close with Zagitova. Still though, that has to be a huge type of pressure.

 

[Jontor]

I wonder if Kostornaya feels a special pressure because Trusova and Shcerbakova have already won their assignments. I think Kostornaya will also win, but it will be close with Zagitova. Still though, that has to be a huge type of pressure.

I agree. It must be intimidating to train alongside these girls every day. This weekend will be very interesting to see how it all unfolds.

 

[Mishaminion]

I wonder if Kostornaya feels a special pressure because Trusova and Shcerbakova have already won their assignments. I think Kostornaya will also win, but it will be close with Zagitova. Still though, that has to be a huge type of pressure.

Alina has already shown at Test Skates and JO that she's not out of the mix and is not going to be written off that easily.
Alena has scored higher in a Free Skate but it is the SP that we can't directly compare yet and could make all the difference. We know Alina is more than capable of a monster 80+ score.

 

[Happy Skates]

I think this type of press suits this thread perfectly. This is the Russian Ladies Thread so Russian media is a part of that to understand what the Russian Ladies have to go through mediawise. Like in any general thread there are bound to be things that is not always of interest for all, I just scroll down when that happens to me.

I think I agree; I sometimes find it interesting to see the media climate in Russia - without translations I would have no idea what the general public there thinks. Now some articles can get really stupid/unnecessary, but I still find it informative to see the whole picture.

 

[neud]

I think I agree; I sometimes find it interesting to see the media climate in Russia - without translations I would have no idea what the general public there thinks. Now some articles can get really stupid/unnecessary, but I still find it informative to see the whole picture.

The thing is clickbait dumpsters do not make media climate in Russia. I don't know why some people just love to repost here all this crap.
If want real media - you can watch this, for example https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL39l9SxO4ZYtqw42ieU6m0X8h0A6nIUMo

 

[Scott512]

I wonder if Kostornaya feels a special pressure because Trusova and Shcerbakova have already won their assignments. I think Kostornaya will also win, but it will be close with Zagitova. Still though, that has to be a huge type of pressure.

Yes for sure Katy. Alena knows she's already the most beautiful artistic and musical skater in ladies figure skating and now she's adding high-end technical difficulties with multiple triple axels. I think a quad is possible in a year or two as well. She needs to peak in 2 years not this year. As for Alina if she doesn't add a triple axel or a quad in the next year or two it will be hard for her to make another Olympic team if they still only accept a max of three per country. With the chronic condition in her left knee I don't mind her waiting another year or so to add one of the big jumps and then her scoring for 10 she'll goes up even higher than it already is.

 

[Seruleane]

I wonder if Kostornaya feels a special pressure because Trusova and Shcerbakova have already won their assignments. I think Kostornaya will also win, but it will be close with Zagitova. Still though, that has to be a huge type of pressure.

I don't know, but I see parallels to the Zhenya vs. Alina narrative during 2017-2018 Olympic season. Alina is now the defending champion, and Aliona is the young protege with the stronger tech content (3As in FS) and excellent skating skills to boot. This is still Aliona's first senior season, so I think she is pursuing Alina rather than the other way around. When you are pursuing someone, the pressure is usually less- just like Alina pursuing Evgenia during Olympic season. Now, even though Alina has won everything and you would think the pressure may be off, it doesn't always work that way. I don't think Hanyu for instance ever felt that after winning his first Olympic or World Gold that the pressure was off. I think either Alina or Aliona would be worthy winners- it just depends on how each of them skates that day, and whether Aliona lands her 3A(s). Kaori is also a top contender. It'll be interesting to see what the judges do, and how the Eteri's team handles having internal competition.

 

[Sugar Coated]

Have the practice skates for started yet in France? I would not be surprised if Alina debuts a new jump (3A or quad) in warm up similar to the way Alena did for her challenger. Keeping her tech the same and just performing as she did at test skates is a good strategy but I also suspect she has been working on the harder jumps. I think she has the athleticism for it, she most likely has been practicing it, and I would not be surprised in the least if her team was keeping this a secret until now.

 

[Scott512]

Kostornaya - about Tutberidze: “I have never met a stronger person. Any athlete in our group would like to be the same.”

Russian skater Alena Kostornaya spoke about training in the group of Eteri Tutberidze:

“We can have fun and fool around in training, but we're not going anywhere because we know why we came here and what there is for to do for us.

All coaches are joking, it is considered absolutely normal. And in training you can be encouraged by this, and outside of training they can also say something, when you can calmly laugh.

Sergey Viktorovich (Dudakov) is focused on training and tries to help everyone right away, but in life he is quite a cheerful and positive person.

Daniil Markovich (Gleikhengauz) can be fun, joke with you and cheer, but can also scold quite a lot. He isn't a person who scolds today, praises tomorrow - he will tell you right away how you work.

When Eteri Georgiyevna comes on the ice - maximum concentration, maximum effort. Her desire is to make her athletes the best. And in life, this is a woman who has experienced a lot, coped with all the difficulties. It seems to me that I have never met a stronger person both in spirit and physically.

Any athlete from our group would like to grow into the same person as Eteri Georgiyevna in the future. We try to do better, try to do more, because we understand this is both our life and the life of our trainers.

If you do not care what will happen to you, at least think about how much time and effort the coaches have put into you in order to mould you into what you are now at least.

We are called Students of Tutberidze. This is also a kind of title. Because not every athlete can get here, not everyone can train here.

You must believe in yourself, especially in those moments when no one believes in you. There was this moment before my transition to Eteri Georgiyevna: I have never been on the podium of major tournaments, and they always told me that I won’t get there, I was behind the top ten, I was only average.

And at that moment I realised: I can, I want to win. Then I went to Eteri Georgiyevna and proved to many that I can change in everything,” Kostornaya said
------
Excerpts from today's 1TV feature: https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1079650495.html

Tiny Alyiona has such a big personality and I love hearing from her. She's always smiling and very upbeat.

I have watched TSL a few times and I was astonished how little those two actually know. Their videos are full of BS speculation that they repeat time and time again without a shred of evidence to back any of it up.
Their biased opinions are equally annoying, it is clear they don't even try to be objective.

Agreed.