2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[nussnacker]

Anna and Alena's programs are almost the same as ones they had last year, in choreography, structure, layout, and the overall mood. Anna's similar to Perfume, but Perfume had better choreography and music, and Alena's similar to Twilight but she looked like she enjoyed Twilight more.

Overall, I'd say the programs at last season's test skates were better, but that's understandable given the break.

I even think Sasha's program is similar to Peer Gynt in the way she moves, but her triples are solid and I don't expect any less from Sasha. Given how she is able to do all quads except the loop, she probably sees triples as others see doubles: easy peasy.

Idk, I might be the only one on this, but I liked Anna the most.
I think Sasha and Kamila were most confident in jumps. Clean and comfortable, no questions to be asked there.
Anna, Aliona and Kamila in spins.

But imo Anna’s artistry really matured with this program. It’s a different feel. She looked so... I don’t know ... raw and real? As if she wasn’t acting her emotions, she was living through them. I also felt like this helped her to stand out in front of Kamila, who although naturally gifted and already artistic, still has some room for growth in terms of performance.

I liked Sasha’s music choice. Also, Liza‘s dress didn’t look tasteful upon first videos I saw from channel 1. However... somehow I’m really into the dress and the program now. I don’t know, something clicked

 

[sparklestan]

I’m really late to the party, but I’ll share my thoughts on test skates:

1. Sasha- Wow! So much improvement in everything, jumps, skating skills, but especially the interp and performance! I loved this program for her and was just blown away!!

2. Kamila- I like Storm better as a SP than an exh, it suits her quite well! Spins were incredible as always, but for some reason I found her jumps bigger than usual but more unstable, idk it could have just been the camera angles.

3. Anna- everything was very well done, despite not being her best jump day. Tbh I found the program similar to last year’s short and the music a bit boring, but it very well could grow on me as the season goes on!

4. Aliona- definitely not her best jump day, but that’s ok! I actually liked her program and some of her body movements very fluid and cool, loads of potential! I appreciate that Aliona skates to music that she loves; I find it really shines through her programs!

5. Zhenya- she had a tough time on some of the jumps, I hope she’s not injured!!! But she really sold that step sequence!

6/7. Liza and Sofia- I didn’t love either of their programs and both had some trouble on the jumps. I hope they skate well in competitions


Best of luck to everyone in the free program!!!!!

 

[colormyworld240]

Oh, now, well, err, what to say... (breath deeply before you look )
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFCrXySJ0CU/

Figure skating is always partly a political game and TAT is an important figure in Russian figure skating. You think Alina likes her personally after she went on TV to tell her dad she likes another skater more? Or Radionova after TAT basically called her fat saying her skating is suffering because she like to eat too much. Or Gubanova after TAT said she looked like a duck more than a swan? However, if you want a career it's better to keep your head down, especially since TAT is not going anywhere in figure skating anytime soon, and she definitely has a lot of influence. It's sad because I think if she were American or Canadian, she would've gotten a lot of deserved backlash for the things she's said.

 

[McBibus]

I'm with those that felt that without Alina, something was missing for me in these test skates

I do: I think she still have a lot to give, but it's not that she's been injuried in the last 9 months.
It's her choice

 

[eliana]

https://www.sport.ru/figurnoe_katan...skve-trusova-vyigrala-valieva-/article458049/

Legendary NBC journalist Hersh - about the skating test in Moscow: "Trusova won, Valieva - second, Shcherbakova - third"

 

[Mishaminion]

I did say this in the test skates thread but still somewhat scratching my head over this.


I am very confused about Sofia's program, hair and make up...maybe it is because I immediately associate The Man With The Harmonica with the famous Western movie, Once Upon a Time in the West: https://youtu.be/MrzukPzGqow

So I'm extremely confused by the style and interpretation. Is it just me?

 

[Mishaminion]

https://www.sport.ru/figurnoe_katan...skve-trusova-vyigrala-valieva-/article458049/

Legendary NBC journalist Hersh - about the skating test in Moscow: "Trusova won, Valieva - second, Shcherbakova - third"

I agree with that. Sasha was such a surprise, I honestly didn't expect to see that much overall improvement. She was absolutely beautiful to watch, elegant, lyrical yet still has massive jumps.

 

[yume]

Shcherbakova and Valieva were better than Trusova imo. It isn't because she tries something new and it isn't a total fail that she is the best skater of the pack.
It's maybe the surprise or the strong desire to see gigantic improvements that make her "win".

 

[Scott512]

There's a whole buch of videos of coaches reactions on skates:
https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/eteritutberidze/2829860.html

I read an article about how Sasha and aliona have no interactions at all. What? It's ridiculous.

Did Alina ever act like this? Nope.

And what's this about not wanting to skate when kids born in 2010 on the ice? Aliona
was once 10 years old and getting in the way of Juniors and seniors when they were on the ice together. It's just part of the cycle of being a figure skater.

Aliona had an almost perfect debut season and probably would have won the World Championshipsunder TT. Something changed and it had to be something besides kids on the ice.

 

[TripleAxelQueens3]

Shcherbakova and Valieva were better than Trusova imo. It isn't because she tries something new and it isn't a total fail that she is the best skater of the pack.
It's maybe the surprise or the strong desire to see gigantic improvements that make her "win".

I actually do think Trusova was the best here, and why? Because test skates aren't a competition. They are test skates. And especially this year's, having been held after such a wild off-season, is more an event to make a surprise. Who's gotten worse, and who (in spite of all circumstances) has gotten better. Yes, we ought to give Anya an extra pat on the back because of a wonderful attempt for the 3Lz+3Lo (though it was both flat edge and UR so... I think Trusova takes the lead in TES at the very least right?). Yes, her interpretation is simply wonderful and sublime, but this program is not that. It is way too similar to Perfume (I'm not the only one who thinks so apparently), but like... not as good? The step sequence has no connection to the music, and while the first half is beautiful, it's not a surprise. She's done the same thing in last year's SP. Kamila's was more of a pleasant surprise. I loved her EX a lot, so I was super excited about her SP. Actually, some of my favorite parts of the ex were stripped away (the long spiral, the spin right on the music), but overall it is a super decent program with a good StSq and good connection to the music. Good for Kami, but you know what's not so great... the jumps are still veeeeery prerotated. Not a huge problem, but if you look at it from a technique standpoint, Sasha wins. Was her program something new? Yes. Was it something new, and good? Yes. You know how rare that is nowadays? For something to be new AND good, and straight off the bat at test skates? And at test skates after not only corona but also a coaching change? In terms of PCS, yes, she still lacks a little, but that "little" used to be a huge gap. And that was fixed only in like what... 3 months? I don't know about you, but I love test skates because we get to see something new. And yet, Anya basically just gave as Perfume with better interpretation but worse choreography. So naturally I like Sasha's performance better.

 

[sunn1ly]

For me Kamila was the winner, competing in seniors and the huge expectations, also being Eteri star and offering the public the most spectaluar elements of the day - her spins.
It was not surprise but Sasha looked so ready to fight for the geo and the skatingskill seems improved and the program looked good on her.
Ana as always both technically good and emotionally and musically involved, she is really artistic and looks like a delicate doll on the ice.
Actually Alena surpassed my expectations of her shape and readiness and was not bad, but was far from her best.
Elena Ilinykh looks really good in Plushenko team, she is the warm and the motherly one with the girls and the emotional one and is looking classy at the rink as the skating lesson said. I guess she is most involved or at least emotionally invested in Sasha's Appassionata as she herself skated to it.
I also the want to appreciate the fighter Medvedeva is and how she is continuing and coping all by herself thanks to her strong character and willpower, such strong mentality.
And lastly want to see Liza with 3A and fighting, they both with Zhenya are the real warriors.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Kostornaya withdrew from FS she will not participate tomorrow. Her program is not ready yet. The choreographer is North-American. My bet he will be Sandhu, Plushenko's friend. We mentione his name some months ago in Trusova's case.

Seems like you were correct. IFS magazine reports the same story. Aliona withdrew from the FS at Test Skates and will work with a North-American choreographer on her program
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/2020-russian-test-skates/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Amei]

I read an article about how Sasha and aliona have no interactions at all. What? It's ridiculous.

Did Alina ever act like this? Nope.

And what's this about not wanting to skate when kids born in 2010 on the ice? Aliona
was once 10 years old and getting in the way of Juniors and seniors when they were on the ice together. It's just part of the cycle of being a figure skater.

Aliona had an almost perfect debut season and probably would have won the World Championshipsunder TT. Something changed and it had to be something besides kids on the ice.

I'm not sure why it seems to be a surprise to anyone that these girls really aren't the best of friends. Sure they can be nice/friendly with each other, but that doesn't mean they are actively seeking each others companionship and having sleepovers while braiding each others hair; they all saw it with Medvedeva and Zagitova - there's only 1 Olympic gold medal at the end of the day.

 

[Scott512]

I'm not sure why it seems to be a surprise to anyone that these girls really aren't the best of friends. Sure they can be nice/friendly with each other, but that doesn't mean they are actively seeking each others companionship and having sleepovers while braiding each others hair; they all saw it with Medvedeva and Zagitova - there's only 1 Olympic gold medal at the end of the day.

this is true Amei. We have to remember they are only human.
But it's a perplexing why Sasha and aliona have to train separately.. what if PA gets another sensation next year from TT? Sasha or aliona will have to share the ice with whoever that is.

On a side note thank heavens we have some competition. Test Skate free skate tomorrow should be amazing.

 

[Ophelia]

I'm not sure why it seems to be a surprise to anyone that these girls really aren't the best of friends. Sure they can be nice/friendly with each other, but that doesn't mean they are actively seeking each others companionship and having sleepovers while braiding each others hair; they all saw it with Medvedeva and Zagitova - there's only 1 Olympic gold medal at the end of the day.

Because people here kept pushing the narrative of 3A, 3 Aces, EterisAngels, TeamTutberizeForProgress, hashtag #bestfriendsforever.

Clown.emoji

 

[readernick]

I read an article about how Sasha and aliona have no interactions at all. What? It's ridiculous.

Did Alina ever act like this? Nope.

And what's this about not wanting to skate when kids born in 2010 on the ice? Aliona
was once 10 years old and getting in the way of Juniors and seniors when they were on the ice together. It's just part of the cycle of being a figure skater.

Aliona had an almost perfect debut season and probably would have won the World Championshipsunder TT. Something changed and it had to be something besides kids on the ice.

I think Aliona’s concern was valid. Advanced skaters can risk serious injury if forced to train their programs on crowded ice with less experienced skaters who can get in their way.

This issue may have been caused by Sergei leaving? Perhaps without enough coaches on staff the younger kids were training with the same coaches as the junior and senior ladies?

 

[Thrashergurl]

I thought Sasha looked pretty darn good out there. I would say she was the stand out today. Kamila was very good too. Her jumps look huge compared to Anna’s and made Anna’s skating look small. I can see why Eteri wanted her at the test skates. She seems to be betting a lot on her. Aliona was fine. I think she’ll still get the highest PCS and deservedly so. She has it all. Medvedeva’s skate wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be after some of the comments I’ve read. She’s a fighter and deserves massive respect for not giving up when these little girls have obviously passed her technically. Liza’s program wasn’t too bad and I missed Sofia’s.

I like that Aliona spoke up about why she left and Eteri’s comments. It seemed Eteri was misleading In her ranting and made it seem Aliona had issues skating with Sasha and Anna, and now we know the truth. I find that very manipulative of Eteri.

Can’t wait for the free skates!

 

[Scott512]

I think Aliona’s concern was valid. Advanced skaters can risk serious injury if forced to train their programs on crowded ice with less experienced skaters who can get in their way.

This issue may have been caused by Sergei leaving? Perhaps without enough coaches on staff the younger kids were training with the same coaches as the junior and senior ladies?

Its just part of being with a big team and group. They all have to put up with it. It may be annoying to have ankle biters on the ice with you. But if Alina and many others can get through it and Aliona did for a few years just fine its just somehthng they have to deal with. Zhenya won Junior worlds then 2 senior worlds in a row and had to skate with kids on the ice at certain times. No way to avoid it other than leave and Aliona did.

 

[NAOTMAA]

on the two former world champs:

If team Evgenia wanted a waltz there are far better choices that match her skating much more then Masquerade Waltz. Something like Shostakovitch No. 2 or My Sweet and Tender Beast would have been better. Masquerade is far too big and powerful for her. She's got power and intensity but a different kind then what Masquerade requires.

I don't know why team Liza picked Spartacus adagio because the music only highlighted the deficiencies in her skating. Her lack of speed and power and the smallness of her overall skating were all on full display. It made her look very cumbersome. I know it's only the beginning of the season and the first performance but considering the last two seasons there should have been a far bigger sense of urgency

 

[moonkat]

I thought Sasha looked pretty darn good out there. I would say she was the stand out today. Kamila was very good too. Her jumps look huge compared to Anna’s and made Anna’s skating look small. I can see why Eteri wanted her at the test skates. She seems to be betting a lot on her. Aliona was fine. I think she’ll still get the highest PCS and deservedly so. She has it all. Medvedeva’s skate wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be after some of the comments I’ve read. She’s a fighter and deserves massive respect for not giving up when these little girls have obviously passed her technically. Liza’s program wasn’t too bad and I missed Sofia’s.

I like that Aliona spoke up about why she left and Eteri’s comments. It seemed Eteri was misleading In her ranting and made it seem Aliona had issues skating with Sasha and Anna, and now we know the truth. I find that very manipulative of Eteri.

Can’t wait for the free skates!

I think Eteri works under a different logic.She has the power to say unreasonable things. Saying such things is a show of her power. Not defending herself with any comment, whether or not it is the full truth, is sign of weakness. Basically, the Queen is the one who can declare Red is Green, while those under her dare not correct her.