- Joined
- Feb 2, 2019
She just does it so casually and with so much ease, it's hard to even realize it's a 3A.
2020-21 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating
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- Mar 26, 2014
Looks like strategically Eteri is a winner. At the end of the last season she had 3A with difficult dynamics among them (I was a witness to this during the last year Nats) and a rising star Valieva with a bit watered down vs. 3A tech content .
Now she has Anna who looks like a committed person with high moral standards. Anna who never says or writes controversial words about coaches, judges, and other skaters. Anna with two most valuable quads and Zhenya like skating style which is appreciated by both public and judges. Finally, Anna who starts the season as the reigning Russian two time national champion. Status wise it can be beaten only by Alina - the reigning Olympic and world champion.
Then she has the reigning world junior champion Kamilla, whose progress is amazing. Kamilla with 2 3As and 2 4Ts even now can get internationally 85 + 165 = 250 If she adds just another quad next year her score can reach the outer space.
As a "backup" she has Alina and Darya. Well, Alina is a very distant back-up. But if things get wrong they could look for motivation to go for the second Olympic medal, at least in the team.
Finally, although Zhenya is truly a wild card, her immense will-power and internal motivation are the reason to not write her off.
All in all, team Eteri is as strong as ever and is well poised for the next season.
Now she has Anna who looks like a committed person with high moral standards. Anna who never says or writes controversial words about coaches, judges, and other skaters. Anna with two most valuable quads and Zhenya like skating style which is appreciated by both public and judges. Finally, Anna who starts the season as the reigning Russian two time national champion. Status wise it can be beaten only by Alina - the reigning Olympic and world champion.
Then she has the reigning world junior champion Kamilla, whose progress is amazing. Kamilla with 2 3As and 2 4Ts even now can get internationally 85 + 165 = 250 If she adds just another quad next year her score can reach the outer space.
As a "backup" she has Alina and Darya. Well, Alina is a very distant back-up. But if things get wrong they could look for motivation to go for the second Olympic medal, at least in the team.
Finally, although Zhenya is truly a wild card, her immense will-power and internal motivation are the reason to not write her off.
All in all, team Eteri is as strong as ever and is well poised for the next season.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
It was definitely planned, because it makes totally sense to try the 3A in a competetion before RussNats.
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- Feb 2, 2019
You are totally right of course, it makes a lot of sense. If I remember correctly, Team Tut even announced that she will go for it at CoR stage 5. But with her most accomplished competitors all withdrawing and an almost certain victory for Kamila, I wasn't sure if she would really follow through with the 3A at stage 5.
Yes, as said by Kamila herself (https://www.sports.ru/figure-skatin...-trojnoj-aksel-chtoby-.html?from=main-news-fs):
Kamila Valieva: "At such a start, you can try a triple axel to be more confident at the next competitions"
Kamila 3a was so smooth. Too bad she stepped out of it. Performance wise she was extremely tentative compared to her last 2 showing. Lots of choreo out of time with the music. Still waiting for her to hit that spiral in time with that piano note. If she manages to perform the choreo as it designed and the 3a I think it will be one of the best sp ever.
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
She always is.
Aliona is the reigning GPF and Euros Champion, that‘s two international titles. Surely, that‘s at least on par with two RusNats Golds... I‘d even argue it‘s ahead. Anyway, it‘s not like it matters all that much - Aliona‘s far off from her usual best this season and thus unlikely to beat Anna.
Also, although Zhenya‘s unlikely to compete this season (would still very much hope to see her at least once, though), she‘s the reigning Olympic Silver Medalist and World Bronze medalist (not to mention that she, too, won RusNats twice in the past) Status wise, she is ahead of Anna without a shadow of a doubt. Anna‘s still Eteri‘s second strongest skater in terms of scoring potential, though. (Only beaten by Kamila) No real competition there.
What about Maiia? She‘s not exactly consistent but neither was Daria a year ago. And neither was Alina back in 2016-17, for that matter. (she bombed that one JGP event pretty badly) And yet she won everything a year later. So, who knows - the Olympics aren‘t until next season. At this point, Maiia looks to be the weakest but I wouldn‘t count her out.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
I agree with you about the timing, but in my opinion it is rather a problem of the choreography itself. Her SP from the Test skates was the best so far because the entry into the 2A was perfectly on the notes and then the spin fitted the music as well. Since they changed the transition into the 2A, this part of the choreo got a little bit messy. And today with the 3A, the lack of connection to the music was most evident. Nevertheless, I am glad that she went for the harder element and landed a fully rotated 3A,despite the step out. Going into the Olympic season it is important to up her tech as much as possible, and this competition is a good chance for that. To try difficult things without risking too much.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
Very Alina-like attitude, I remember she evaluated herself very similarly after the olympic SP (or it was after the team competition performance). Kamila has a very good head on her shoulders, let's hope she will keep it.Kamila: "...it was important for me to participate in these competitions in order to understand what we have gained during these one and a half months. I myself would grade the work done by me with a <B>..." C'mon, Kamila, it was at least B+
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2020
I agree test skates was her best performance of this SP. I also liked the outfit she wore there much more than this new one. The part where she is stalking the 3A should be rectified. It's really jarring to see this part especially seeing how much smoother the SP look with only the 2A.
Khromykh is on another level of inconsistency though, not exactly Zagitova-like. Zagitova only bombed one program during that season and was clean/cleanish at other competitions including straight clean skates at jgpf-senior rusnats-junior rusnats-junior worlds, beating everyone in TES. While Khromykh makes mistakes at every competition.What about Maiia? She‘s not exactly consistent but neither was Daria a year ago. And neither was Alina back in 2016-17, for that matter. (she bombed that one JGP event pretty badly) And yet she won everything a year later. So, who knows - the Olympics aren‘t until next season. At this point, Maiia looks to be the weakest but I wouldn‘t count her out.
In real-time it looks like a 2A. Especially because she relies more on rotation than height. IIRC her 3A in that insta video was higher. She rotates really fast.
Is it only me that Valieva reminds me a little bit of the vibe of Lipnitskayas story? She is already been pushed for the Olympics, she is supposed to be the favorite and she is quite consistent, as competitions go on! For example, Zagitova was already better than Medvedeva in her first junior year, but there was no such hype... Now, for Kamila, despite Trusova and Scherbakova being also favorite, she is also considered top! What are your opinions? I am really afraid for Kamila having the same route as Lipnitsakaya...
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2019
I think what the last year has taught us is that speculation is moot so many months before the actual Olympic competitions as the most unexpected things can happen. Who would have thought a year ago that of the three rising stars Anna, Sasha, and Aliona, no-one will ever be a World champion? People would have called you crazy, but now, this looks very much like a possibility if worlds is not going to happen this season. Kamila is certainly a contender for an Olympic spot, and, if she gets it, for a podium position, but at this point everything beyond that is just speculation.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2019
The federation is definitely pushing Kamila as the best Russian skater, and she is certainly amazing. The more I’ve seen, the more I appreciate her talents. That said, Olympic judges tend to surprise us. It’s never really a given or predictable. Also, while the Russian “teams” are battling, it seems the Japanese ladies are working hard with no drama. There is no guarantee we will see a Russian at the top of the Olympic podium. That’s what makes skating so exciting.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2014
Why don't you just make things easier on yourself and just write Maiia?Khromykh is on another level of inconsistency though, not exactly Zagitova-like. Zagitova only bombed one program during that season and was clean/cleanish at other competitions including straight clean skates at jgpf-senior a?rusnats-junior rusnats-junior worlds, beating everyone in TES. While Khromykh makes mistakes at every competition.
Good point about her inconsistency. it's hard for them to be consistent with the very difficult content they're doing.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2018
When I first saw it I actually thought it was a 2A, and then when it was marked 3A I was like "what????"
Did i write her name with an error?Why don't you just make things easier on yourself and just write Maiia?
Good point about her inconsistency. it's hard for them to be consistent with the very difficult content they're doing.
I prefer to call Russian ladies by their last names. Because, how many Anna, Sofia, Alena/Alina, Anastasiia, Elizaveta, Daria, etc. exist in Russian FS world?
There aren't many Maiia though.
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2006
Not for me. I discovered Lipnitskaya when she was 11. Her jump technique (especially that 2axel) was not strong AT ALL. It was a race which would come first: puberty or the Olympics? I never felt at ease with her skating because 'it was just a matter of time before it all ends'.
With Valieva, I think I also discovered her around 10 or 11, but her jumps always seemed so much more controlled and sound technically. I haven't felt any worries about her losing her technique once she grows. I really think she is the 'chosen one', barring injury. I'm more thinking Anna Shcherbakova when I think of Julia Lipnitskaya. I worry about Anna in a year's time. Kamila? I think she'll continue to get better and stronger.
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