2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Edwin]

3A sweep completed! :clapper:

Indeed, and who could have thought this: one single rink taking home all the gold medals from all the stages, some medals were 'easy', others were more difficult, but all were earned by clever program design, optimised element layout, meticulous preparation of the skaters, and hard work with complete dedication and determined mindset from all involved, skaters, trainers, coaches, support staff.

#TeamTutberidzeForProgress forever, #6OutOf6, and a fair chance of a sweep of the GPF podium.

 

[flanker]

So happy for Aliona and Alina. Aliona scored her second victory in the strong field and Alina prevailed after yesterday's unsatisfying skate and showed that you truly need three triple axels to defeat her.:agree:

 

[fabienne1996]

So happy for Aliona and Alina. Aliona scored her second victory in the strong field and Alina prevailed after yesterday's unsatisfying skate and showed that you truly need three triple axels to defeat her.:agree:

While iamhappy for alina, I have to say that she would have to be clean in the sp and free to show that only triple axle and quads can beat her. When both are clean than yes I would say the same, as it stands now she hasn't been really clean so we do not k ow which score she would get ,

 

[anonymoose_au]

The ISU made Sofia S's stellar season last season a total joke.

If I was her I'd feel like my Euro medal was worthless and I'd never want to skate in a competition again.

 

[laybackrelaxspinfast]

Has anyone done the maths and took the seasons best scores for the sp and fs for each girl and figured out their ranking potentials amongst one another for Russian nationals? I know each competition scores differently but it would give us a good idea. Obviously Sasha and Aliona are first and second, but I wonder where the other girls currently rank against one another and some had harder Grand Prix events than others for sure.

 

[starla16]

I would say Med and Alina are tied for a potential spoiler for 3rd spot at Nationals, Alina might score higher if shes clean
but both need to skate clean and capitalize if any of the 3A makes mistakes especially the weakest link Shcherbakova.

 

[Happy Skates]

The 3A swept the GP

I'm just so proud . Sweeping the Senior Grand Prix is such a big deal. Last year when they (almost) swept the Junior Grand Prix, it felt like it was a given that they were going to dominate, but the fact that they have so far carried that domination on to Seniors... its beyond amazing. I remember when they were just girls from Russia making their international debuts and experimenting with difficult elements. Now they're landing them consistently and doing programs so amazing that a couple years ago we only could have dreamed of them. What a trio. historical.

And congrats to Alina for pulling it back in the free today. She basically tied Rika in the free, which proves she's still a contender. And a GPF spot! 4/6 GPF spots for the Russian ladies. Not half bad .

 

[starla16]

Has anyone done the maths and took the seasons best scores for the sp and fs for each girl and figured out their ranking potentials amongst one another for Russian nationals? I know each competition scores differently but it would give us a good idea. Obviously Sasha and Aliona are first and second, but I wonder where the other girls currently rank again one another and some had harder Grand Prix events than others for sure.

I think Alina/Anna/Evgenia are tied in scoring potential
so when all can skate clean we will see what happens.

 

[laybackrelaxspinfast]

That should be very interesting! How lucky Russia is to have such a deep field. They should undoubtedly be allowed more spots for worlds. It’s just silly that they are capped at three!

 

[LenaRadiFan]

Honestly, after this competition, I would actually say Aliona is the leading lady in russia as of now. Especially when her and Sasha are going to be scored against. She almost broke the world record today and she wasn't clean, so imagine how she scores when clean. Of course, same with Sasha and I think it is very very close between them but I think GPF will give us a good look on how they will be scored against in direct comparison, especially in pcs

 

[laybackrelaxspinfast]

It’s crazy that Bradie is going to the gpf instead of Evgenia. They are worlds apart with scoring and honestly Bradie is bringing a knife to a gun fight here.

 

[nussnacker]

I think Alina/Anna/Evgenia are tied in scoring potential
so when all can skate clean we will see what happens.

Alina at her best under current system can score 82 (wc) +158 (neb)
Anna 74 (coc) + 160 (sa)
Evgenia 77 (cor) + 149 (wc)

It will all depend on the girls and how well they do at Nationals.

 

[Nord Stream 2]

Alina at her best under current system can score 82 (wc) +158 (neb)
Anna 74 (coc) + 160 (sa)
Evgenia 77 (cor) + 149 (wc)

It will all depend on the girls and how well they do at Nationals.

There will be Liza. Theoretically, 80 + 150 is also possible for her.

 

[starla16]

That should be very interesting! How lucky Russia is to have such a deep field. They should undoubtedly be allowed more spots for worlds. It’s just silly that they are capped at three!

because of 3 factors

Bradies home cooking score at SA
Meds disastrous SP at SC
Liza being underscoring in both her GPs

- - - Updated - - -

There will be Liza. Theoretically, 80 + 150 is also possible for her.

Liza will have the lowest PCS, she is Russian No 6 for sure if all skate clean.

 

[flanker]

While iamhappy for alina, I have to say that she would have to be clean in the sp and free to show that only triple axle and quads can beat her. When both are clean than yes I would say the same, as it stands now she hasn't been really clean so we do not k ow which score she would get ,

You say it as if clean Alina was something that happened years ago. We have seen second clean free program this season, this time in quite difficult situation, that speaks loudly, maybe even more loudly than in the situation when everything goes smoothly, because you see strength of her will and character. As for SP, yes, yesterday she missed the combo, that also was the only big probel. What happened with scoring in France now looks even more ridiculous than before. And, BTW Alina again showed that in those times she is the only skater without quads or 3A, who can still repeatedly score above 150 in free program. Apart from her only Zhenya has the same potential (of active ladies). others need quads or triple axels to get reguralry over this limit. Yes, I am optimistic about her now, it is not something unexpected or too hard for her to be clean in both programs and in the finals even those I've mentioned have to count with her as a real medal contender.

As I've said yesterday, Alina probably needs some impulse, challenge, skating too relaxed in serious competition does not work well for her. Today she had the chance to see that if clean she won't be out of the medal positions and that can motivate her. The best way someone expressed Alina's attitude were the commentators on NBC during worlds, "before today Alina skated not to lose, today she skated to win."

 

[Edwin]

Well, Alina did seem in my eyes looking both tense and determined in her free skating run today. Afterwards she looked relieved, but in the K&C emotional again, biting her lip worryingly, to me it seemed holding back tears with considerable effort. But she managed

Who knows what goes through her mind looking at her younger rink mates that took over the world of figure skating? It has to be tough finding the right balance between competitive drive and relaxation, i.e. having fun in your competitions without all the associated stress of having to deliver. But Alina, like almost any other athlete, probably is finding out for herself that she needs this competitive stress in order to get the right drive, to get 'in gear'. A process of self discovery no trainer can really help with, a process that might take some time, and failed attempts. Her trainers, and Sambo-70 and by extension FFKKR need to have some patience.
Next season there will be 2005 born girls, but not too many compared to the 2004 year that gave us the Terrific Trio, only Sinitsyna and Kanysheva perhaps?

So Alina doesn't need to worry yet, her results are still amongst the worlds best.

 

[starla16]

the only way Tuk can get that inflated WTT score again of 150 if she gets a quad jump next time.

 

[flanker]

It’s crazy that Bradie is going to the gpf instead of Evgenia. They are worlds apart with scoring and honestly Bradie is bringing a knife to a gun fight here.

Unless she will have skate of her life (something like at WTT) and somebody else will have a meltdown (which, of coure, can't be excluded) I think it is not too daring to say that Bradie will be the last. On the other hand, while I'm not much of her fan I must say that during last two years she made huge progress. her unsatisfying skate at Poland last week should be taken as an exception.

 

[laybackrelaxspinfast]

Imagine if the Russian girls just start throwing down quads at Russian national as a last shot at it before worlds! That would be total insanity, but so entertaining! I’m holding on to the hope that Evgenia will go for her quad sal at Russian nationals. That would be incredible.

 

[lusterfan]

Has anyone done the maths and took the seasons best scores for the sp and fs for each girl and figured out their ranking potentials amongst one another for Russian nationals? I know each competition scores differently but it would give us a good idea. Obviously Sasha and Aliona are first and second, but I wonder where the other girls currently rank against one another and some had harder Grand Prix events than others for sure.

Just for reference, combining their best scores from both programs across different competitions. I added a little potential possible total to reflect what they could score if they went clean.

[table="width: 500, class:grid, align: center"]
[tr]
[td]Skater[/td]
[td]SP[/td]
[td]FS[/td]
[td]Total[/td]
[td]Possible Total[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sasha[/td]
[td]74.91[/td]
[td]166.62[/td]
[td]241.53[/td]
[td]~250-255[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Alyona[/td]
[td]85.04[/td]
[td]159.45[/td]
[td]244.49[/td]
[td]~248-250[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Anna[/td]
[td]73.51[/td]
[td]160.61[/td]
[td]233.67[/td]
[td]~240-242[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Zhenya[/td]
[td]76.93[/td]
[td]148.83[/td]
[td]225.76[/td]
[td]~228-230[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Alina[/td]
[td]74.24[/td]
[td]151.15[/td]
[td]225.39[/td]
[td]~233-236[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Obviously if clean, Sasha dominates with her quads, but she will need to land the 4S cleanly. Without it, she's at danger of slipping below Alyona. Alyona's massive SP gives her enough of an advantage to withstand the quadsters. It also helps that she receives massive GOE and PCS, which in addition to the 3A's keep her more than competitive. She will need to securely land those 3A's to challenge Sasha though. Anna has been weak in the SP, but scores massively in the FS. Judges have not been willing to throw her high GOE or PCS yet, so she stands at a disadvantage there. Alina if perfectly clean will have enough judge backing to challenge a slightly off Anna. Anna has yet to score over 230, which Alina can do (but not yet this season). Zhenya is already near her score ceiling due to a mandatory 3lze call. Without proper lutzes, she can't score well enough against the other score maximizers. Her PCS can rise some more, but will be nowhere near enough. She can only play the spoiler if everyone skates poorly.