2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Thrashergurl]

The only thing we can say for sure is that Zhenya will be on the ice in a very nervous state.
It is clear that we are not talking about the final. It's ridiculous.

It is necessary to think how to get into the expanded national team next year and get the usual funding for Zhenya. Oddly enough, but Zhenya should be interested in the physical condition of Sonya Samodurova and Alena Kanysheva and Lisa's plans for the next season. At the Russian championship, she should get into the top 7. But it will be very difficult to do. Yes, Konstantinova, Sotskova and Sakhanovich are not happy with the results and are unlikely to pose a threat. But Sinitsina and Vasilyeva are fine. Tsibinova, Gulyakova, Nugumanova and Gubanova are waiting for their chance like a hungry shark. Kanysheva trains in Crystal, it says a lot. 4A and Lisa are also ready to fight. Eugenia has to show the best that she can. Otherwise, Rostelecom may stop funding these canadian holidays. Improvements from them see only fans of Zhenya, who remember the good old days and are willing to forgive the regression, visible to the naked eye. Skating from Zhenya without falls has already become a holiday for us and for her. Each element seems heavy and made of the last forces. Even the performance at the world Cup is a parody of the previous Zhenya. The most important thing is her eyes before skating. Such eyes were have Alina in the past year. Eteri has solved this problem.
Many of you will be angry with me, but Zhenya has to change something. With Orser she would hang her skates on a nail in a year. Unfortunately I don't see many coaches who are willing to take the risk and take her on.
I really want to believe that I'm wrong and everything will be fine. But it is not.
Now you can start to scold me the most rude words.

You’re forgetting she’s the reigning Worlds bronze medalist and currently the highest scoring of the Russian veteran skaters. Which Russian girl hasn’t fallen so far this season? I count only Aliona. Unfortunately Medvedeva had her fall in the short program. Let’s not pretend the others have been skating 100% clean.
I doubt she will make GPF, but she’s not in as bad shape as you’d like people to believe.

 

[Finley]

I am ready to subscribe to your every word. That's her choice. I just think that she should listen less to "well-wishers" who say that everything is normal and she is going the right way. A few more steps and it might be too late..

To be fair, we have no idea who she is listening to. I'd imagine she is listening to her coaches, choreographers, nutritionists, trainers, physios and managers. She has too. Also, she can listen to well-wishers, fans and even 'not-fans', without giving too much weight to their opinions.

Ultimately, she has to listen to herself. She is an adult now. She will feel a lot more at peace with whatever the ultimate outcome might be (which NONE of us can know) if she listens to her own heart and mind.

'Too late' is relative. There is no way for her to know that. All she can do is keep working, try to stay healthy and believe in herself and her decisions.

Alina seems to be approaching this season (as of right now) with the attitude of someone who is fine with bringing a knife to a gun fight. As her fan I have to accept that she may not win another gold medal this season. Or even make a podium or go to Worlds. I don't want that but it will be what it will be. I'm grateful that she still wants to fight to skate competitively. I'm sure Zhenya's fans feel the same about her.

And yes, I will be freaking out before Rus Nats. Send Vodka!

 

[Scott512]

Blame ISU for stupid rules, not Russia. I personally always thought and still think that major international competitions should invite the participants entirely on the basis of personal merits. What do you want from a national federation, to prefer the weaker athletes to those who proved they are stronger, because "we love them so much"? This is sports, after all. And don't rush, we're still midway to the GP finals...

I'm with you 100% on merit-based entries. but asking for the ISU to improve their sport is like spitting into the wind. Obviously they should be increasing merit-based entries while still holding onto spots for other smaller countries so they can grow their sports. I have always enjoyed the tennis and golf rankings and what you get out of that that's how you get into events. if you think it's bad now with the Russian girls wait 3 or 4 years when 3A is like 20 years old and then they have 10 15 to 18 year olds who can do triple axels and quads. It's going to be mind-blowing.

 

[Lechat]

And which in your opinion will be her placement in Russian Nationals? How can she and Alina make it to worlds? Grand Prix etapes are easier to medal...

Yes but last year, everybody was expecting for Rika to win the worlds but she was out the podium. Nobody was expecting for Zhenia to be among the top three this is why I don’t want to predict. The 3A are amazing but not invincible.

 

[Mathman]

Yes but last year, everybody was expecting for Rika to win the worlds but she was out the podium. Nobody was expecting for Zhenia to be among the top three this is why I don’t want to predict. The 3A are amazing but not invincible.

Anything can happen. A big jumper might fall and negate her advantage, as happened to Rika Kihira last year.

Still, going with the odds... Alexandra Trusova can score 100 points in TES even with a fall.

 

[Amei]

You’re forgetting she’s the reigning Worlds bronze medalist and currently the highest scoring of the Russian veteran skaters. Which Russian girl hasn’t fallen so far this season? I count only Aliona. Unfortunately Medvedeva had her fall in the short program. Let’s not pretend the others have been skating 100% clean.
I doubt she will make GPF, but she’s not in as bad shape as you’d like people to believe.

Let's not pretend Medvedeva's only short program problem in Canada was a fall, the program was a mess and her reputation got her a 34 PCS not what she put on the ice that day, and while Trusova and Shcherbakova have had falls they have far more difficult content to make up for their mistakes.

And I think we can all say that we have more confidence in the coaches at Sambo to make adjustments to help increase their skaters scoring potential as the season progresses; I don't know as if anyone can say that there is confidence that Orser and company will increase the difficulty too much of Evgenia's programs as the season progresses.

 

[Arbitrary]

Anything can happen. A big jumper might fall and negate her advantage, as happened to Rika Kihira last year.

Still, going with the odds... Alexandra Trusova can score 100 points in TES even with a fall.

The question is if she can score 100+ without a fall? Never happened yet.

 

[Globetrotter]

Let's not pretend Medvedeva's only short program problem in Canada was a fall, the program was a mess and her reputation got her a 34 PCS not what she put on the ice that day, and while Trusova and Shcherbakova have had falls they have far more difficult content to make up for their mistakes.

And I think we can all say that we have more confidence in the coaches at Sambo to make adjustments to help increase their skaters scoring potential as the season progresses; I don't know as if anyone can say that there is confidence that Orser and company will increase the difficulty too much of Evgenia's programs as the season progresses.

I seriously have doubts of this, at least in the short term. Knowing Eteri's pragmatic style and strict coaching, I am sure she would have pushed for harder content if that made sense back then - afterall, Zhenya was and still is known as being a very hard worker. They could have tried full backloading (aka Zagitova), loop combos etc. My interpretation is that I think Eteri is wise enough to know that they had already more or less maxed out the tech potential with what she had - Zhenya did not have the right technique to push further and any further technical improvements will involve very long rework and there was simply no time for that with the Pyeongchang olympics round the corner. After the olympics, Zhenya made the decision to move to Orser's group to rework her technique. Like it or not, we have to respect her decision. I don't think Orser or Eteri or even Papa Mishin will be able to wave a magic wand to correct all the old techniques and repurpose them on Zhenya's more mature, injured body within a year. Afterall, when Mao Asada reworked all her jumps, it still took her 3 to 4 years before we could see a rejuvenated beautiful skater who gave us the final 2 years of lovely skating before she hung up her blades.

The only worry and reality check is that with Russia's great depth and centralised funding mechanics, Zhenya may not have the benefit of time.

 

[Jontor]

I seriously have doubts of this, at least in the short term. Knowing Eteri's pragmatic style and strict coaching, I am sure she would have pushed for harder content if that made sense back then - afterall, Zhenya was and still is known as being a very hard worker. They could have tried full backloading (aka Zagitova), loop combos etc. My interpretation is that I think Eteri is wise enough to know that they had already more or less maxed out the tech potential with what the had - Zhenya did not have the right technique to push further and any further technical improvements will involve very long reqork - and there was simply no time for that with the Pyeongchang olympics round the corner. Thereafter, Zhenya made the decision to move to Orser's group to rework her technique. Like it or not, we have to respect her decision. I don't think Orser or Eteri or even Papa Mishin will be able to wave a magic wand to correct all the old techniques and repurpose them on Zhenya's more mature, injured body within a year. Afterall, when Mao Asada reworked all her jumps, it still took her 3 to 4 years before we could see a rejuvenated beautiful skater who gave us the final 2 years of lovely skating before she hung up her blades.

Th only worry and reality check is that with Russia's great depth and centralised funding mechanics, Zhenya may not have the benefit of time.

Very well said. Totally agree.

 

[colormyworld240]

I seriously have doubts of this, at least in the short term. Knowing Eteri's pragmatic style and strict coaching, I am sure she would have pushed for harder content if that made sense back then - afterall, Zhenya was and still is known as being a very hard worker. They could have tried full backloading (aka Zagitova), loop combos etc. My interpretation is that I think Eteri is wise enough to know that they had already more or less maxed out the tech potential with what the had - Zhenya did not have the right technique to push further and any further technical improvements will involve very long reqork - and there was simply no time for that with the Pyeongchang olympics round the corner. Thereafter, Zhenya made the decision to move to Orser's group to rework her technique. Like it or not, we have to respect her decision. I don't think Orser or Eteri or even Papa Mishin will be able to wave a magic wand to correct all the old techniques and repurpose them on Zhenya's more mature, injured body within a year. Afterall, when Mao Asada reworked all her jumps, it still took her 3 to 4 years before we could see a rejuvenated beautiful skater who gave us the final 2 years of lovely skating before she hung up her blades.

Th only worry and reality check is that with Russia's great depth and centralised funding mechanics, Zhenya may not have the benefit of time.

Every skater has different technique and body changes during puberty. So they're all going to have different adjustments to make; it's easier for some skaters, more difficult for others. Same with the coaches. What's important to point out is that Eteri (though the credit probably goes to Sergei) was able to help Alina adapt her jump technique to her new body. It did take a full season. She had a year of worse jumps and inconsistency and this season they look to be back at olympic-season shape. Mishin was also able to help Liza with this (though it may have taken more than one season). I think it's incorrect to say that they wouldn't have been able to help Evgenia, we simply don't know because it wasn't attempted. That being said, we don't know if they would've been able to do a better job than Brian, either.

 

[Globetrotter]

Every skater has different technique and body changes during puberty. So they're all going to have different adjustments to make; it's easier for some skaters, more difficult for others. Same with the coaches. What's important to point out is that Eteri (though the credit probably goes to Sergei) was able to help Alina adapt her jump technique to her new body. It did take a full season. She had a year of worse jumps and inconsistency and this season they look to be back at olympic-season shape. Mishin was also able to help Liza with this (though it may have taken more than one season). I think it's incorrect to say that they wouldn't have been able to help Evgenia, we simply don't know because it wasn't attempted. That being said, we don't know if they would've been able to do a better job than Brian, either.

Exactly. I was responding as the impression I got was that some posters were convinced Zhenya made the wrong choice and had deteriorated by moving to Brian Orser. Her deteriorating results may be temporally associated with her move to Toronto, but it does not mean that her new coaching team and new training methods in Toronto was the cause. I was trying to put it in context that the deterioration would have occurred regardless of whether she stayed or moved. We will never know if Eteri's team will be able to rework things better than Orser, what is really key is we have to respect the decision that Zhenya had made to uproot herself elsewhere. Even Alina struggled last season with a growth spurt and she is still adapting to these changes this season based on what I observed in IdF. I am from the camp that both Zagi's and Zhenya's temporary loss of consistency is due to inevitable physical changes that come with maturity and the subsequent adaptation process and not so much because the coaches are not helpful. Zagi chose to stay on with Eteri while Zhenya chose to move to another environment. Neither decision can be consider right or wrong.

 

[fabienne1996]

Everyone says she's improved. I ask you to explain her improvements.

I have realized that I am not an expert and do not understand much. I don't see how Tennel has improved (forgive me Scott512, but I have to be honest). I believe that when she stopped to do 3Lz+3Lo she made step ago and refused chance enter in elite. Decided be figure skater average level.
I don't see any improvement in Bell. She's been skating the same thing all her life. Now she stopped falling. Happy for her.

On the other hand, Rika and You try to catch the same train with the best Russian girls and Alice. I respect them for that.
On the third hand, I like Satoko and Kaori. I will gladly watch them while they wait for mistakes from the best.

You're talking about the problems with the 2A from Eteri. Who did you have in mind? The Olympic champion, the world champion among juniors or the champion of Russia? Give examples of the ideal 2A. I'll tell you... Sonya Akatyeva is the best in the world.

If we are talking about zhenya, I will not start to discuss this but just look at the post I poster like a week ago. Her axel in the trainings session at skate Canada was huge, yes she needs to also translate this to her competition performance, but she also has a better flow in and out of the jumps, before she really lost speed before going for the 2a now she is going in with more speed and less hesitation, when I look at her free skate I see the jumps incinerated and flowing not really stopping for the jumps, her edges are also beautiful. And again for me I would rather see alena, zhenya and alina any time of the day than I would watch sashas programm, yes her quads are exiting but for me nothing else captures me in her programms, but again that is just my 6many other have another opinion.

 

[DenissVFan]

Ksenia S. scored 54.35 in her SP at Volvo Open and she's currently in 6th.

 

[Fluture]

Ksenia S. scored 54.35 in her SP at Volvo Open and she's currently in 6th.

Sinitsyna?? What happened? (Or another Ksenia S.?)

 

[DenissVFan]

Sinitsyna?? What happened? (Or another Ksenia S.?)

Sinitsina. I don't know, I haven't seen her performance, just the scores. She had a 1 point deduction.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Sinitsyna?? What happened? (Or another Ksenia S.?)

She fell on her Lutz and missed her combo. Her 2A was also wonky according to some people.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Ksenia's SP at Volvo Cup
https://youtu.be/_SRxbqbAAoI

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Who else of note is competing at the Volvo Cup? Who is in first place right now?

 

[Tolstoj]

Who else of note is competing at the Volvo Cup? Who is in first place right now?

Anastasiia Shabotova with a score of 62.40 points.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

4S by Maiia Khromykh
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4j4MyDJz5c/?igshid=ndai92kqwec3