2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[kmw227]

Now that the season's over, I'm curious: what were everyone's favorite Russian ladies' programs this year? I liked way too many to pick just one, so I did a top 5

Short Programs
1. Alena's "Angel"
2. Alina's "Me Voy"
3. Kseniia's "Alfonsina Y El Mar"
4. Evgenia's "Exogenesis Symphony Part 3"
5. Anna's "The Perfume"

Free Skates
1. Alena's "Twilight"
2. Daria's "Je Suis Malade"
3. Evgenia's "Memoirs of a Geisha"
4. Anna's "The Firebird"
5. Kamila's "Exogenesis Symphony Part 3"

 

[Vemvane]

Ooh, my favourite programmes this season ... In no particular order:

Short
1. Aliona's 'Departure (Lullaby)'/'November'
2. Evgenia's 'Exogenesis Symphony Part 3'
3. Alina's 'Me Voy'
4. Anna's 'Perfume'

Long
1. Evgenia's 'Memoirs of a Geisha'
2. Aliona's 'Twilight'
3. Anna's 'Firebird'

Those are the ones that have really stuck with me, even though I have enjoyed others very much as well. Honourable mention has to go to Sasha's 'Unstoppable' EX, I must say, and Daria's 'Je Suis Malade' has been on a loop in my head almost all week. I also loved Kamila's 'Spiegel im Spiegel' short, and her 'Storm' EX is very special.

 

[Fluture]

This is a great idea. I will go by the performances that I rewatched the most, I think.

SP:
1. Zhenya’s Exogenesis
2. Aliona‘s Angel

I don‘t often rewatch the SPs so it‘s getting more difficult here. But I tried:

3. Anna‘s Perfume
4. Alina‘s Me Voy
5. idk here. I like Kamila‘s SP from the mere idea but the execution fails to work for me personally. So, I guess I‘ll go with Nugumanova‘s SP. Just because. But it‘s not a very confident choice.

FS:
1. Aliona‘s FS (it‘s so bad but I love how much she sells it. It‘s been my guilty pleasure all season long. It‘s just a program you want to clap to. From an audience perspective it definitely works! Like a much, much improved version of Radionova‘s Titanic)
2. Zhenya‘s Geisha
3. Anna‘s Firebird
4. Sima‘s FS

Edit: I think I‘ll name my top three
Galas separately

1. Zhenya‘s Billie Eilish (It’s very personal to her and you can tell. It‘s not just any music but close to her heart. Her performance from RusNats, even without jumps and broken boots is so raw and shows so many raw emotions and pain)

2. Sasha’s Unstoppable

3. Alina‘s Gala. My favorite program from her. Very raw and beautiful.

 

[Fluture]

Look what I found. Can you tell who this little performer is? So cute.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xVobL27IEFI

 

[Fluture]

(Yes, due to the cancellation of Worlds, I’m looking for old performances from our Russian ladies. I’ve already rewatched Zhenya’s JGP seasons and the progress from there’s insane)

And now Anya. Here’s one of my favorite performances ever from her:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7u1J1XL9uHI

Yes, I love the miming. It wouldn’t fit as a senior but as a junior, it‘s the perfect program. I don‘t know why she‘s doing basically every jump with a 3T, I guess it‘s a training runthrough in competition.

 

[Jontor]

I think FFKKR should strictly apply its recently revised criteria and do away with any protection. There are too many skaters on the waiting list and quite a few seniors who haven't delivered this season. Tough choices will have to be made and some hard verdicts passed. I think it is morally wrong to block talent from advancing. Perhaps more test skates and stricter monitoring of actual work and progress being made?

I totally agree. Konstantinova and Sotskova vs Gubanova is a no brainer to me. The former two have not delivered, let's give Gubanova a chance. And then there are others of course...

 

[katymay]

There was full PentaQuad Trusova's program published with all five done. Don't know if it a recent test run or one from better times.
I'm pessimistic here as having WC-2020 cancelled looks like a death warrant signed for Sasha's career...

I'm hoping she will take this year to work on the spins, skating skills etc. Also, as great as this five quad program is, she seems to be straining with stamina a bit (five quads will do that I"m sure). It is possible that cancelling Worlds was sort of a reprieve for Kostornaia (who is struggling with a sudden growth spurt) and Trusova. This might not have been the competition either of them wanted. It is a long season, and more than a few skaters seem to have been limping toward the finish line this year. (Rika, in addition to Sasha and Alyona). Now Rika will have time to heal her injuries, Trusova has time to work on the 3A and non jumping aspects, Kostornaia can slowly adjust to growth issues without risking injury from jump repetition.

 

[esteticlove]

This season among all the SPs I saw, I liked Anna's Perfume and Alina's Me Voy the most. Both choreography and music, as well as the interpretation and performance from the girls was exquisite. My favourite part of Anna's program is the moment from the one spin combination to the other, where she's spinning while the music is really haunting. In Alina's program, I think, that I enjoyed mostly her elegance and presence on the ice.

As far as the FP is concerned, I can't name a favourite one, unfortunately. I feel like nothing catched my eye that much. Probably, Alina's Cleopatra is the highest on my list. I really like the first half but it kind of loses it's energy until the StepSeq. Anna's choreography and performance was very good but I am just not a fan of the music. Sasha's program had a potential to be really dramatic but at the same time I think it was lacking some connection between the different jumps. Alyona's was at least fun and she could sell it, however, 3 music peaces in one was too much for me. The first musical transition was fine, though.

 

[brakes]

Look what I found. Can you tell who this little performer is? So cute.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xVobL27IEFI

Very cute performer, I definitely see a fire in this little bird!

 

[Good Vibes Only]

(Yes, due to the cancellation of Worlds, I’m looking for old performances from our Russian ladies. I’ve already rewatched Zhenya’s JGP seasons and the progress from there’s insane)

And now Anya. Here’s one of my favorite performances ever from her:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7u1J1XL9uHI

Yes, I love the miming. It wouldn’t fit as a senior but as a junior, it‘s the perfect program. I don‘t know why she‘s doing basically every jump with a 3T, I guess it‘s a training runthrough in competition.

Wasn’t that performance a part of a gala for a competition? I think that’s why Anna did so many combos without worrying about a deduction in a score or anything.

 

[Orlov]

Is Elena Kostyleva still with "Khrustalnyi"?
VK Tutberidze group doesn't inform about her scores, only about Rubtsova, Zhilina and Petrosyan.

Her mother (Irina Kostyleva) as it turned out is a very scandalous and unpleasant person. Here (in the comments ) you can read how she scolds Rozanov, how she discusses in mocking tones another girl (who, apparently, she perceived as a rival of her daughter)

- Are you done with "Khrustalnyi"?

- Yes, Alexander, you are right. Sergey Rozanov is DEFINITELY not Lenochka's coach. We are gave him a seven-year-old baby on a platter with all the triples and 2A, and HE... decided "to drown" her because of his personal PROJECT. WITH such a coach, she is NOT on the way.

- What do you mean by Project?

- This is an athlete of the same age as Lena, which he train more than a year, but so far in vain - at her only competition she doin nothing: 2Lz+2T with UR - four judges rated -4, one judge -3, and double with two foots Other parents told me that the "crown fell off her head" when my Lena came to the group, so her mummy was gloomy for half a year!!!! You can find this girl in instagram - she didn't know how to skate normally yet, and her crazy mother was already PR - ,,in figure skating, this happens !" And I would be ashamed to show THIS. The worst thing is that such envious CREATURES, whose children are usually INCOMPETENT, put a stick in the wheel and poison the life of talented children. GOD is their JUDGE !!! But everything in our life has to be paid for. Alexander, you have communicated with Lenochka 's mother - Irina.


Disgusting. She's just a stereotypical "mean FS mom". I thought it was only in movies or gossip stories. And they are here - in real life. And the worst part is that she doesn't even see herself from the outside. She probably thinks that she's a saint.

 

[brakes]

Wasn’t that performance a part of a gala for a competition? I think that’s why Anna did so many combos without worrying about a deduction in a score or anything.

https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?61394

 

[Edwin]

Her mother (Irina Kostyleva) as it turned out is a very scandalous and unpleasant person.

And I think given the negative past experiences with the meddling and dominant mothers of Lipnitskaya and Medvyedeva, #TeamTutberidzeForProgress now has a different approach with parents of prospective skaters and won't tolerate this kind of meddling anymore. Cooperative and supportive parents, yes, meddling, gossiping, slandering busybodies, no.

Mrs Kostyleva and Plyushchenko-the-trainer seem to be made for each other's ambitions.

One should hope Yelena's parents have her best interest in mind, instead of letting their own ambitions rule through their child.

 

[KOBOT37]

I don't really give much attention to programs so I will just list performances I like the most

SP

1. Kamila at JW.
2. Alena at GPF
3. Alena at Nationals.

FP

1. Alexandra at JO
2. Anna at Russian Nationals
3. Kamila at JW

 

[brakes]

I wonder, if Rozanov's alleged "personal project" is Parsegova.
It's a shame, because Kostyleva is indeed very talented girl.

 

[KOBOT37]

Sasha posted her Free Skate on instagram and kept it real landed all of her 5!!!! QUADS.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9o3clrI-H6/?igshid=c12823el9voe
Saw some former skaters post on Twitter like Kristi Yamaguchi that it would be a great idea if skaters posted their Free skates online so that we can have our own World Championships online! Seems like Sasha was the first to post hers! Hope the others follow suit

Amusingly, there are people especially at Russian FS community who are calling this performance weak No, I meant it, they aren't saying they don't like it(which would be understandable,tastes differ),they are calling it weak.

5 Quads Carl, Five

 

[colormyworld240]

This season among all the SPs I saw, I liked Anna's Perfume and Alina's Me Voy the most. Both choreography and music, as well as the interpretation and performance from the girls was exquisite. My favourite part of Anna's program is the moment from the one spin combination to the other, where she's spinning while the music is really haunting. In Alina's program, I think, that I enjoyed mostly her elegance and presence on the ice.

As far as the FP is concerned, I can't name a favourite one, unfortunately. I feel like nothing catched my eye that much. Probably, Alina's Cleopatra is the highest on my list. I really like the first half but it kind of loses it's energy until the StepSeq. Anna's choreography and performance was very good but I am just not a fan of the music. Sasha's program had a potential to be really dramatic but at the same time I think it was lacking some connection between the different jumps. Alyona's was at least fun and she could sell it, however, 3 music peaces in one was too much for me. The first musical transition was fine, though.

I agree with this. Choreographically, Alina's Me Voy was Daniil's best, ever. It was musical, every movement had a purpose, and the step sequence was incredibly nuanced. In terms of performance, interpretation, and execution, Anna's Perfume was the best out of any Russian lady imo. None of the Russian ladies' FPs were a complete standout to me, some were good but none compared to those two shorts. Alena's FS was enjoyable when she was enjoying it, particularly in the beginning of the season. Alina's Cleopatra had a fun step sequence but wasn't that interesting in the middle and she never performed it to its full potential; the cleanest skate had errors. I know Daniil's choreography is normally jam packed, but this one seemed empty and Alina didn't seem completely invested until the steps. Anna was a very charming and bright Firebird, but I found that her peak performance was at Skate America and it lost a bit of its magic as the season went on where as the short got better with each outing. I didn't particularly enjoy the choreography or execution of Liza, Evgenia, or Sasha's FPs. When music choices were announced the FP I was most excited for was Sasha's, but she never performed it close to it's potential. Japan Open was the peak for actually landing the jumps, but she was just beginning to ease into the choreography at the first competition. It's probably the biggest shame for her that worlds was cancelled as she normally peaks at worlds.

 

[Edwin]

The first girls competing their short program in Russia Superiority in the Younger Age are out on the ice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slfDc61kYDs , given the uncertainty of sports events continuing, even in almost empty rinks, best watch live figure skating while we still can. Any competition with the best novices from Russia is a treat.

The competitors are seeded according to yesterday's elements competition, in which top novice Adeliya had an off day, hopefully she'll bounce back with one of the best short programs of this season.

Start orders and live scoring: https://fsrussia.ru/results/1920/mlvoz2020/SEG013.HTM

Petrosyan #11,
Gorbachyova #22,
and the top flight with Berestovskaya and Zhilina.

The older boys will compete their free program later today.

 

[lpt]

I don't blame Kostyleva's mother since Rozanov rejected to accept Kostyleva twice in the first place (she was accepted by E.T. at the third audition) and didn't pay enough attention to her afterwards. She had good reasons to leave the group.

 

[Edwin]

Russia's Ministry of Sports has removed Konstantinova from the reserve list and added Gulyakova.

What brought this about? Stanislava's lack of competitive results? Her personal wish? Her switch to a commercial rink (perhaps on a full sponsorship)?

https://www.minsport.gov.ru/2019/doc/FigurKatanie_sp2019-20-izm6.pdf